Government taking steps to tackle malnutrition, says Deepak Sawant

State health minister Dr Deepak Sawant agreed that there had been a rise in malnutrition and said that the government had already taken steps to detect malnutrition and its causes. The state will conduct health check-ups and provide good quality food to tackle the problem, he said.

Dr Sawant had on Thursday called for coordinated response from various state departments and joining of different schemes to tackle growing cases of malnutrition in Mokhada and other places in Palghar district. Conceding there was a rise in malnutrition, he announced several strategies to tackle the problem and said that the government had already taken cognisance of the problem and was doing all it could to deal with it. “There is a rise in malnutrition. Conversion of schemes is the answer to the problem. As regards malnutrition in Mokhada tehsil, we will reach out to every single child suffering from malnutrition and provide him/her with proper nutrients, diet supplements as per children’s needs,” said Dr Sawant. “Malnutrition in Mokhada is a very complex issue involving various factors, such as discontinuation of the central scheme of village and child development centres, large-scale migration of tribal people for employment, large number of vacant doctors’ posts and convergence of schemes of various departments,” he added.

The minister further said, “We will be providing them enough ration; we have already sent a team of private hospital doctors for their treatment.”

Expressing concern over the demise of two kids in the past 15 days, he said, “They both died of different ailments. The first kid, Sagar Wagh, died due to tuberculosis; he was admitted to the Nashik civil hospital. The other kid name Ishwar Sawara died due to a lung ailment. We are further investigating their deaths.”

A comprehensive plan will be prepared to tackle malnutrition and after being approved by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, it will be implemented.