Amid criticism from various quarters over the death of 19 infants allegedly due to malnutrition in the mineral-rich Jajpur district, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today said a task force has been set up to ensure such incidents do not recur.
"The state government has formed a task force to go thoroughly into the entire issue and see that incidents of malnutrition don't recur," Patnaik told reporters here.
His statement came a day after the state's Women and Child Development Minister Usha Devi defended the state government on the death of the 19 tribal children at Nagada village within three months.
Devi yesterday said there is no concept of family planning at Nagada village, where the malnutrition was reported, and some families there have eight-nine children. A survey conducted by her department found that 24 Juang tribal families have 122 children.
The situation of the tribal village, which is situated on the top of a hill, was due to lack of awareness and the government would take steps to bring these tribals to the mainstream.
"It all depends on the villagers. If they are not willing to come down from the hilltop, we will make alternative arrangements for them," she had said.
Meanwhile, senior officials visited the hospital at Kaliapani in the area and have inquired about the health condition of children from Nagada village admitted there.
Principal Secretary and nodal officer of the special task force Manoj Ahuja and Director Agriculture P K Meherda visited the hospital and held discussions with doctors attending the suffering children, whose number increased to 19 after three more were admitted yesterday.
Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), central division, A B Ota, who is heading the task force said the administration has identified 18 malnourished children in the village. They are being treated at the Kaliapani hospital.
Senior officers also left for Nagada to verify the condition of the place where Juang tribals have been living for generations.
The Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) yesterday asked the state government to submit an action-taken report within three weeks over the incident.
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Ota said the government has prepared both short and long- term plans to tackle malnutrition situation in which emphasis has been given to communication, drinking water, health and mini Anganwadi centres.
He said in order to ensure basic facilities in the village, the state government has appointed secretaries and directors of health and family welfare, ST and ST development, works and rural development departments as nodal officers.
A CPI(M) delegation which visited Nagada village held the state administration responsible for the death of the 19 children.
"Besides state and central government, the government should involve industries and mining companies to develop the living standard of the people," said Santosh Das, a CPI(M) state secretariat member.
