18-month-old adivasi boy dies of malnutrition

An 18-month-old Adivasi boy on Tuesday died of malnourishment in Nashik, with the Shramjeevi Sanghatna terming it “murder” owing to the “cruel mentality and policy” of the state government.

Sagar Shiva Wagh, who was from Palghar, had been admitted to the Nashik Civic (General) Hospital Monday afternoon.

Shramjeevi Sanghatna leader Bhagwan Madhe said the baby was admitted to Nashik Civil Hospital on Monday afternoon.

“No proper measures were taken to save the toddler and he died around midnight,” said Bhagwan Madhe, Shramjeevi Sanghatna leader. ”The hospital also did not conduct the post mortem till 4 pm Tuesday,” he added. Civil Surgeon Dr Suresh Jagdale said he would look into the matter to confirm if the baby had died of malnutrition.

Earlier, Shramjeevi Sanghatna president Ex-MLA Vivek Pandit had with the help of Shri Vithu Mauli Trust and Vidhayak Sansad, started a ‘Sanjivani Chavni’ (camp) for malnourished children at Javahar on January 1, 2016. About 500 malnourished children were admitted for treatment in the Sanjivani Chavni.

Sagar, then severely malnourished (weighing 4.6 kg) had been admitted in Sanjivani Chavni on January 1, 2016 for treatment. After five days he gained around 500g. His mother, who was pregnant at that time, had received good nutrition while in the camp and delivered a baby girl with normal weight.

Taking note of the success of the Sanjivani Centre, the government started a malnutrition centre in Palghar in March 2016 called Gram Balak Vikas Kendra. With the opening of the government centre, the Sanjiveni camp had to shut down and Sagar and other children had to go home.

Later, sources said the central government sent a letter to the state government on August 14, directing it to close down its malnutrition centre owing to shortage of funds. Shramjeevi Sanghatna said the state Adivasi department should have continued the scheme with its own funds.