Prime Minister's Advisor T K A Nair today completed his two-day fact-finding visit to tribal belt Attappadi in the district hit by infant deaths due to malnutrition and stressed for implementing Central-assisted schemes in tribal areas.
Speaking at a review meeting at the AHADS (Attappadi Hills Area Development Society) in Agali, Nair wanted the officials to take steps to avoid undue delay in the implementation of schemes for tribals.
Co-ordinated efforts by various departments are needed to ensure that benefits of Centrally-assisted schemes reach the tribals, he said.
Nair, deputed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to study reports of infant deaths in the region due to malnutrition in large numbers, reached here on Monday evening and began visits to tribal areas yesterday.
He visited 'Oorus' (tribal settlements) at Narasimukku, Moolagankan, Gonjiyoor, Kulappadi and Sambarkode in the district in the last two days and collected information from officials on the series of infant deaths in the area.
Nair held discussions with officials and doctors at the tribal hospital at Kottathara. He also met representatives of the 'Thaikula Sangham' (anti-liquor movement of women), other Non-Governmental Organisations and peoples' representatives.
As many as 42 tribal children had died in the last one-and-half years in the area, most of them either due to malnutrition or ill health of mothers.
The Centre had earlier announced a Rs 200-crore package for the Attappady area. Nair had been deputed to make an on-the-spot assessment of the situation as prelude to work out schemes to address the health problems and related issues, sources said.
