‘Act before the third Covid-19 wave wipes out our next generation kids’

With essentials hard to come by, the nutrition programme for kids suspended and no sight of any direct transfers to their accounts, Palghar’s tribal residents worry for their children

Tribals in Palghar are having to deal with not just the second wave of Covid-19, but also malnutrition among children. Food schemes meant for children are suspended in some villages. There is no sign of the direct bank transfers (DBT) of Rs 2,000 promised by the State. This, even as there are hundreds of malnourished kids across the district. Vivek Pandit, chairman of a government-appointed committee to check the status of tribal schemes warned that the anticipated third Covid-19 wave endangers the next generation of tribal children, who won’t be able to fight the virus.

Kartik has a handicap in his legs and comes in the moderate acute malnutrition category. Pics/Hanif Patel

The state government must focus on boosting the immunity of tribal children. Otherwise, the third wave will be disastrous for tribal kids. The government must take preventive measures on time,” Pandit told mid-day.

In July 2020 too, mid-day had highlighted the acute food shortage among tribals in Palghar. Since then, it appears that the government has learnt no lessons in improving tribal children’s diet.

Also Read: Maharashtra: Tribal belt battles an unknown killer

During a spot visit in Jawhar taluka, mid-day visited Chauthyachiwadi village and found three malnourished children in the village. The height of two-year-old Khushi Datta Dumada is 70 cm and she weighs 7.20 kg.

The in-charge of Vitthu Maoli Charitable Trust in Jawhar, where malnourished children and their mothers are treated free of cost, Sita Ghatal said, “She falls under the SAM (severe acute malnutrition) category of malnutrition.”

No food supply to Anganwadi

Khushi’s 18-month-old cousin, Suhani Hanumant Dumada, and her neighbour Kartik Mangesh Sapta, five years and two months old, fall under the MAM (moderate acute malnutrition) category.

Kartik Sapta with his brother, Khushi Dumada with her mother and Suhani Dumada with her grandmother at the Anganwadi centre in Chauthyachiwadi village, Jawhar taluka

Kartik is handicapped and can’t stand properly, his height is 79.2 cm.

“This is just one Anganwadi. There are multiple Anganwadis in one taluka and malnutrition among children is alarming,” said Ghatal, adding, “The nutritional food for tribals children aged seven months old to three years old has not been distributed since February in this village.”

The children’s parents have been jobless amid the pandemic.

“We have learnt that the ration has reached the district but it has not been distributed. We are checking the mistake at the ground level,” Pandit told mid-day.

Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Pravin Bhavasar of Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) told mid-day that till April, a total of 1,660 children are malnourished under the MAM category and 142 children are in the SAM category in Palghar district.

After 600 children died of malnutrition in Palghar in 2016, the Shramjeevi Sangthana had carried out a massive agitation. The state government had then started the Amrut Ahar Yojana to provide tribals with nutritional food.

“Under this yojana, each family would get 16 eggs from the state government and the Palghar Zila Parishad promised to give four eggs. So, in total one family would get 20 eggs per month. This scheme was really very beneficial as eggs provide much-needed protein,” Pandit said.

“But the Zila Parishad stopped giving their share of the eggs in April 2020 citing a fund crisis. So each family is now entitled to 16 eggs per month,” Pandit said.

“Earlier, pregnant women and lactating mothers would get ready-to-eat food but they have now been asked to collect Take Home Ration (THR). But there is no guarantee that the women are getting the THR,” Pandit added.

Savitra Dumada, an Anganwadi worker

According to data received from the ICDS, from April 2020 to March 2021, 296 children have died in tribal-dominated areas of Palghar district. Pandit said, “While there are various immediate causes of death, what led to these causes is malnutrition — among children and among their mothers. It would not be shameful to admit that these children have died of malnutrition. Rather it is shameful that the reality of their malnutrition is being denied.”

Where are the DBTs?

“Above all, the state government had promised the Bombay High Court on May 15 last year to properly execute the Khavti scheme in tribal-dominated districts in Maharashtra. Earlier, the state government had announced a direct bank transfer (DBT) of Rs 4,000 to each tribal family. But it was reduced to Rs 2,000,” Pandit said. Last month, the Uddhav Thackeray-led government announced that it would disburse Rs 231 crore among tribal families under the scheme. “No DBT has been made to any tribal family till date,” Pandit said.

Calls and messages to Tribal Development Commissioner Hiralal Sonawane to know the reason behind the delay in disbursal of DBTs went unanswered.

He added, “It is not just children, pregnant women and lactating mothers who are struggling. Whole families are facing starvation.”

“Considering the anticipated third Covid-19 wave, which is likely to affect children, we must boost their immunity. It would be possible only if the kids are given nutritious food and a balanced diet. If they are fed only rice, they are bound to get malnourished,” Pandit said.

“We are making tribals and their children vulnerable. Without a strong immunity, it would be impossible to save them,” Pandit said.

The Anganwadi centre in Chauthyachiwadi village has not received nutritious food meant for children since Feb this year

Pandit said that the government should immediately disburse DBTs to tribal families. “The government reduced the DBT amount from Rs 4,000 to Rs 2,000. What is the reason for a delay now?” Pandit said. He further said that apart from giving nutritious, immunity-boosting food to women and children, they must also be given multivitamins.

Deworm kids on war footing

Pandit added that most tribal children suffer from intestinal worms which directly affects their health. The worms make children anaemic. “Deworming among children is essential. There must be a campaign by the state government to fight it. Intestinal worms can further hamper the fight against malnutrition. Not dealing with this would be jeopardising the next generation of tribals. They are in danger of being engulfed by the pandemic,” Pandit said.

Pandit also pointed out that there are no paediatric hospitals or doctors in the talukas. “Where will these tribal families go if we do not keep them protected?” Pandit said.

Pandit himself has planned a paediatric Covid-19 centre at Usgaon in Virar east. “We will start it by the end of this week,” he said.

1,660
No. of children under moderate acute malnutrition in Palghar

Rs 2,000
Monthly DBT promised by State to each tribal family under the Khavti scheme

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