Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, his four Cabinet Colleagues along with the Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh and Union Minister of State for Food and Public Distribution K.V. Thomas will start their Attappady visit from Paloor tribal hamlet in Pudur Grama Panchayat from 9 a.m on Thursday.
During the last 16 months 52 tribal infants died mainly due to malnutrition in 23 tribal hamlets of Attappady Hills in the District.
In Paloor one tribal infant died on February 15, 2013.
From Paloor, the team of Ministers will proceed to Nellipathy tribal hamlet in Agali Grama Panchayat where four tribal infants died from February to April this year.
After that a meeting of officials and people's representatives will be held at the Conference Hall of AHADS in Agali town.
The Chief Minister will also address a public meeting at Agali. After the meeting he will also visit Kadampara where one tribal infant died on March 28, 2013.
The Chief Minister will be accompanied by Ministers of Health, Rural Development, Tribal Welfare and Social Justice along with top Government officials.
The Health Department in a report to the Government has said that 92 tribal infants died in Attappady Hills since 2007-08.
It said that out of this 60 are neo-natal deaths; 30 infant; one toddler and one still birth.
The report said that during April 2007 to March 2008, 11 infant died – three infants and eight neo-natal.
During April 2008 to March 2009 six infants died – three each of infant and neo-natal deaths.
During April 2009 to March 2010, 18 infant deaths took place; 15 neo-natal and three infants.
During April 2010 to March 2011 eight deaths occurred – four each of infant and neo-natal.
During April 2011 to March 2012 only four deaths occurred – three neo-natal and one infant.
But during April 2012 to March 2013 the record death of 34 infants occurred. Out of this 21 are neo-natal; 12 infant and one still birth.
In the month of April 2013 six deaths took place – three each of neo-natal and infant deaths.
During May 2013 five deaths occurred – three neo-natal; one infant and one toddler death.
