Maharashtra’s tragedy of malnutrition deaths

Maharashtra, one of the most advanced industrial states in India, has unfortunately been besieged by a controversy involving the deaths of tribal children due to malnutrition. Recent reports suggest that nearly 1,600 kids in the tribal areas of the state have died in the past 4 months, many of them from starvation. The Bombay High Court, concerned at these deaths have ordered the state government to submit an action plan to address the problem. While the state boasts of a strong public distribution system, a developed communication network and a responsive government structure, the inability to reach basic food and milk supplies to hundreds of tribal children in far-flung villages has exposed the chinks in the claims of running a peoples government. These series of photo images bring to you the gravity of the problem from the thickly forested areas of Melghat, near Amravati, and from Jawahar, Mokhada and other regions in Thane district. It is hoped the stark reality of starvation haunting small children depicted in these photographs will make us realise that we have failed miserably. In a day and age when resources are aplenty and can be airlifted within hours to any remote corner of the earth, nobody should die from shortage of food or medicine. Dr. Nagesh Tekale,President at Navdrushti NGO, Mobile no- 9869612531