Malnutrition deaths near Mumbai

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Thane: Malnutrition deaths in Mumbai's backyard: Yes, that's happening in Thane district of Maharashtra. Four children die here every day and 1,700 have died over the past one year.

Tai Mohan Ghare's only son, Balu, died three weeks ago because of malnutrition, which affects children below the age of six worst. An entire generation has died over the past one year and data with district health officials confirms the alarming state of affairs.

"In Thane district, now we have 1,136 Grade 3 and Grade 4 children. We are definitely concentrating on the Grade 3 and Grade 4 children and the others are also being taken care of," says District Health Official, A P Khade.

However, health officials in Mumbai deny that the deaths were caused by malnutrition. They claim that an investigation is on to find out why children are dying here.

"It's not a routine visit. We are here to investigate the recent deaths. But all the deaths we found were not directly related to malnutrition," said P P Doke, Director of Health Services, Maharashtra.

Who's to blame?

Deaths have also been reported from Mokhada Taluka (block), 140 km away from Thane. Sunken cheeks, frail bodies and the wailing of people who have lost their children is a common sight in this tribal belt.

Premature motherhood, poor education and government apathy are blamed for malnutrition deaths in Mukhada. Rukmini Soma Korda, for instance, weighs just two kg though most infants of her age should weigh at least six kg.

Rehka Dakhne, an anganwadi worker, blames Rukmini's mother for the infant's condition. But there is no food at the anganwadi. The food stocks, which were meant to provide supplementary nutrition to malnourished children, ran out days ago.

Thane is one of the largest districts in India, and yet hits the headlines only when tribal children die of malnutrition.