A delegation of a local NGO met Maharashtra Governor C Vidyasagar Rao in view of the large number of cases of malnutrition coming to light in the tribal-dominated Palghar district.
The delegation, led by Shramjeevi Sanghatana's founder president and former MLA Vivek Pandit, met the Governor yesterday over the issue.
They submitted a memorandum to Rao, detailing the present situation in the district and the measures to be taken to tackle the issue.
The Governor assured to look into the matter.
Recently, Shiv Sena worker and member of Palghar Zilla Parishad Prakash Nikam had said that 17 children have died due to malnutrition in the last two months in the tribal-dominated Mokhada taluka of Palghar.
Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children, Jaslok hospital,
Global hospitals, Surya Mother and Child care and P D Hinduja National hospital and Medical Centre are some of the hospitals that have been roped in for Palghar, Sawant said.
Mumbai's KEM Hospital is already working on the same issue in Palghar district.
Tehsils like Mokhada, Wada, Vikramgad, Javhar, Talasari and Dahanu in Palghar will be brought under the private hospital scheme, he said, adding that allocation of tehsils to particular hospital will be done in a couple of days.
After Palghar, teams from private hospital will also be sent to the identified hospitals in other districts, specially in the tribal dominated ones, he said.
"Most of the children who died in Palghar came from very poor families. Adults worked as labourers, while some even migrate to other districts as contract labour, who generally does not get work orders during monsoon season. It reduces their income and the direct impact is on the pregnant woman who could not afford full meal require. Hence, many babies bear malnourishment," Sawant said.
He said the authorities concerned have been directed to initiate fresh survey for issuance of new ration cards to families who do not have one.
