Even as the clinical, anthropometric and biochemical (CAB) report of the Census has revealed some alarming figures on the nutritional status of rural population in Rajasthan, the Opposition Congress on Thursday blamed the BJP government for the death of children in Mangrol region of Baran district due to severe acute malnutrition (SAM).
Pradesh Congress chief Sachin Pilot said the recent death of three children in the area and the serious condition of several others suffering from SAM had proved that the State government had failed to take corrective action after the death of 29 children of the poor Sahariya tribe in Baran district in 2014.
“I had alerted the State government on this serious issue, but it has shown complete negligence and insensitivity,” said Mr. Pilot. He said the malnourished children, who should have been treated without delay, had fallen victim to the BJP government's indifference.
A large number of children were suffering from SAM in as many as 10 districts of the State, said Mr. Pilot, adding that 11 children who were not given supplementary nutrition had died in Barmer district in a span of two months earlier this year.
Immediate action
While Mr. Pilot demanded effective monitoring of malnutrition-affected districts and immediate admission of malnourished children to malnutrition treatment centres, the Jan Swasthya Abhiyan-Rajasthan has also called for immediate action by the State government to control the situation.
In a memorandum submitted to Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, the Jan Swasthya Abhiyan pointed out that the CAB report of the Census Commissioner’s Office had put the number of children suffering from SAM at 15 to 16 per cent in villages in the State.
“An estimated 17.81 lakh children below six years of age are severely undernourished, out of whom approximately 15 lakh are in the rural areas in 2016-17 after adjusting the population figure of 2011 Census to the current year. Against the earlier assumption of SAM being in the range of 8 to 9 per cent, almost the double figure is shocking,” said the memorandum.
The State government’s efforts to address this emergency situation were inadequate, stated the Jan Swasthya Abhiyan.
