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Expressing alarm at reports related to the death of 600 tribal children due to malnutrition in Palghar district, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday instructed secretaries of the departments concerned to prepare a nutrition policy within 15 days.

The policy will seek to suggest measures, including introduction of energy-dense micronutrient-based food supplements to counter malnutrition deaths in a coordinated manner, by various government departments including the women and child development, tribal affairs and health. Mr Fadnavis on Wednesday held a review of developments in the state’s tribal districts through video-conferencing at Varsha, his official residence, during which secretaries of the departments concerned were present.

The CM also expressed his dismay at posts lying vacant pertaining to medical officers (MO) and women and child development officers in 14 suicide-prone districts in Vidarbha, Marathwada and the malnutrition-affected tribal district. “When the right to recruit MOs has been given to district collectors and the selection procedure must be completed at district level only, why do files related to such selections come to Mantralaya for approval,” Mr Fadnavis asked, disapproving of the delays in appointments by the health department. Former legislator and president of Shramjeevi Sanghatana, Vivek Pandit, also met Mr Fadnavis on the Wednesday and sought to direct the government’s attention on the need to eradicate poverty in tribal areas by making available newer livelihood options.

The chief minister reviewed the malnutrition situation and how the district administration was tackling with it within tribal districts. He spoke with collectors of Palghar, Thane, Nandurbar, Nashik, Dhule, Amravati, Yeotmal, Gadchiroli and Ahmednagar via video-conferencing. Mr Fadnavis said, “Eradication of malnutrition is not the responsibility of any department. Each and every department, which is concerned with this issue, should come together to make Maharashtra a ‘Death by Malnutrition-Free’ state.”

“It’s shameful for the state that anganwadi women did not get remuneration for six months. These anganwadi helpers are key persons in elimination of malnutrition and they work in rural areas where they don’t get facilities,” said Mr Fadnavis, who instructed that in such situation, they should receive remuneration in time.

He said the issue would be sorted out within three days.

Mr Fadnavis noticed that several posts of child development project officer posts are vacant across the state. He said that at present 150 such officers are available from Maharashtra Lok Seva Ayog (Maharashtra Public Service Commission). The CM said there is no need to send them for training. “Recruit them directly and immediately in tribal tehsils,” he said.