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The suo motu petition alleged during the period prior to

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Press Trust of India
2010, huge amount of funds had been sanctioned for purchases without verifying actual delivery. According to the information provided by the government, 47,000 children suffered from malnutrition in Vidarbha region, while 450 children and 139 pregnant women died of malnutrition in 2010. Besides this, 1,005 women have suffered miscarriages in the same year. In January 2011, Rs seven crore was spent on vitamin syrup for tribal children. On March 31, 2011, the Social Justice Department sanctioned a sum of Rs 9.23 crore for supply of micro-nutrients to students of residential schools set up for the children of nomadic tribe. These funds were released two days before the budgetary allocation was to lapse, the petition alleged. The government also sanctioned Rs 15 crore for purchasing toys at anganwadis in the state and also Rs 55 crore for biscuits and chikkis and Rs 65 crore for audio-visual and printed material for educational purpose. Anganwadi is a courtyard shelter set up by the government to provide basic healthcare to tribal children in villages. Of the 4,776 anganwadis, 1,982 do not have concrete structures. Despite funds, 40 per cent of the anganwadis lack food, infrastructure and space. They don't even have basic amenities like mattresses and force children to sleep on the floor, the suo motu petition alleged.

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First Published: Feb 18 2013 | 8:00 PM IST

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