MP govt issued notice by NHRC, after 116 malnutrition deaths in 5 months

On 28 September, the Madhya Pradesh government was issued a notice by the National Human Rights Commission, calling for a detailed report in the deaths of 116 children due to malnutrition in the last five months in Sheopur district.

Taking suo motu cognizance of the incidents, the commission has sent a notice to the Chief Secretary, Government of Madhya Pradesh, and has called for a detailed report in the matter within four weeks.

The three Nutrition Rehabilitation centers in the district are overcrowded and lack facilities as well as doctors.

The commission has also pointed out that it has been emphasizing at every platform for proper implementation of government schemes, including ICDS, which provide for supplementary nutrition for both lactating mothers and children.

Reportedly, children are forced to sleep on the floor at the Nutrition Rehibilitation Centres as there are no beds available for them. Many children, suffering from malnutrition, are not being attended by the doctors for hours.

The District Collector of Sheopur has stated that they have called doctors from other district to attend to them. Due to overcrowding and lack of basic hygiene, the hospitals have also become prone to infection.

--ANI