Bombay HC: Form panel for Mission Melghat

Mumbai: The Bombay high court has directed the chief secretary of the state to constitute a task force committee which will take a follow-up of the scheme, “Mission Melghat” that was created for the benefit of tribal people.

The court said that the task force committee will maintain all the records like how many doctors, experts and government officers had visited the tribal areas and what they did on each such visit. According to the court, it will be helpful to see the actual implementation of the scheme.

A division bench of Chief justice Naresh Patil and Justice N.M. Jamdar was hearing a bunch of petitions pertaining to tribal areas and deaths due to malnutrition. In earlier hearings, the court had expressed displeasure at the steps taken by the state to reduce malnutrition deaths.

Recently, advocate general Ashutosh Kumbhakoni placed on record the document, “Mission Melghat”. He informed that the concerned tribal minister had visited the Melghat region along with senior officers.

Petitioner Dr Rajendra Burma told the court that it was necessary that different departments catering to the tribal people’s needs worked together for formulating sufficient facilities required to be provided. The purchase price and quality of the food grains and items which were supplied to pregnant women and children needed to be reviewed.

Following this, the court directed the chief secretary to constitute the same within two to three weeks. Mr Kumbhakoni said that the state was committed to implement the scheme in both letter and spirit.