Amid rising unrest among tribals of Palghar over deaths of children due to malnutrition, Maharashtra Rural Development Minister Pankaja Munde is scheduled to visit the district tomorrow.
In view of her visit, Palghar district administration has issued prohibitory orders in two villages in view of Munde's visit. Another state minister Vishnu Savra had recently faced the wrath of tribals over malnutrition deaths.
Talking to reporters here, Maharashtra Chief Secretary Swadheen Kshatriya said, "Pankaja Munde would be visiting Jawhar and Mokhada talukas of Palghar district tomorrow along with some of our officials to take stock of the situation there. They would be interacting with district officials and also listen to the villagers."
He added that the state is preparing a policy that will be aimed at balancing the infant mortality rate and reduce malnutrition in the district.
"To prepare a strategy for the policy, the Health and Women and Child Development departments will come together and suggest ways that will be aimed at stopping deaths due to malnutrition," Kshatriya said.
According to him, the government would also seek help from civil society groups and NGOs for the preparation of the policy.
District Collector Abhijit Bhangar directed for orders under CrPC section 144 to be clamped in a radius of one km of Koch and Kalamwadi villages of Mokhada taluka tomorrow from 7 am to 8 pm, an official release said.
Prohibitory orders have also been issued considering that some local activists may disrupt her visit.
"The order was issued due to the visit of Munde to the villages to meet the family members of the two children who recently died due to malnutrition," the statement said.
Tribal Affairs minister Vishnu Savra, who is also the Guardian minister of Palghar district, had recently faced the anger of a tribal woman whose two-year-old son died last month apparently due to malnutrition.
During his visit to the grief-stricken family in Mokhada taluka, villagers claimed over 600 children had died in the tribal-dominated district due to malnutrition since January last.
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Meanwhile, the Shramajivi Sanghatana late tonight warned that they would not let minister Vishnu Savra enter Mokhada taluka during Munde's scheduled visit tomorrow.
The statement issued by Palghar unit chief of the Sanghatana, Suresh Renjad, also said that the prohibitory orders, which will be in force in two villages of Palghar district tomorrow, snatches away the constitutional rights of people.
