High Court notice to Orissa on deaths due to malnutrition

The Orissa high court issued notices to the state government and the Centre on Wednesday over malnutrition deaths in Nagada village under Chungudipal block in Jajpur district.

As many as 19 infants, most of them tribals, had died due to malnutrition and lack of healthcare between March and June.

Admitting a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Nationalist Lawyers Forum joint secretary Tapas Kumar Dwivedi, a division bench, comprising Justice Vipin Saran and Justice B.R. Sadangi, served notices to the Orissa and Union governments and directed them to reply within three weeks.

In the PIL, the petitioner cited that the officials have failed to implement the welfare schemes launched by state and Central government in the tribal-dominated areas.

“Due failure of the state and Union governments, infants and poor people are dying in Nagada. At least 19 children have died in the recent past at Nagada village under Sukinda block in Jajpur district due to malnutrition,” the petitioner said.

The tribal hamlet located on the hilltop of Jajpur district is deprived of basic facilities like drinking water, electricity, education, health services and communication facilities.

Children are dying due to intake of contaminated water and lack of medical facilities. People are being bereft of their basic rights, the petitioner mentioned.

The state government has spent Rs 2,200 crore in the last three years for eradication of malnutrition for which half of the aid has been provided by Centre.

“The Nagada infant deaths have exposed the reality which speaks volumes of its utilization. Agency like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) should probe how the money has been spent. Notably, as many as 35 schemes have been launched by the state and Centre for the welfare of the people. However, it has not reached to the people in the areas like Nagada,” petitioner Mr Dwivedi added.

He further said: “Water and air pollution due to mining activities in the area has affected the people of Nagada. The district administration woke up after media reports on Nagada. However, there has been little impact on the ground. Administrative inefficiency is one of the reasons behind underdevelopment in the area. In view of this, stringent action should be initiated against the officials.”

Odisha chief secretary, health secretary, Jajpur district collector, Union health secretary, Union rural development secretary and CBI have been made parties to the case.