45,000 malnourished kids in tribal areas

Mumbai: The state on Wednesday said in the Assembly that in 16 tribal areas of the state, 45,724 children were found malnourished between 2014 and 2016. It also said that in 2016-17 a total 21,985 children died, of which 2,718 were recorded in tribal areas.  

Health minister Deepak Sawant said that authorities have also found that 9.4 per cent of child deaths between age group 0 to 6 were due to them being underweight.

A petition regarding 17,000 deaths in the state due to malnutrition in 2015-16 is currently before the high court for hearing. The court in September 2016 had voiced concern over the deaths due to malnutrition in tribal areas in 2015-16.

Mr Sawant said, “In 2014-15, 25,289 children were found malnourished and in 2015-16, 20,435 children were malnourished. The authorities have also found that 9.4 per cent of child deaths between age group 0 to 6 were due to them being underweight.”

The reply from Mr Sawant has come after the high court in June said that children dying due to malnutrition was more important than waiving farmers’ loans and the state government should give it priority.  

A concept of model Anganwadi has been implemented and the Anganwadi workers have been given tablets to note real time valuation of the children.