State to HC: TISS will conduct study of tribals

Mumbai: The principal secretary of the public health department on Tuesday informed the high court that the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) had been appointed to conduct a scientific study of tribal areas in the state that were facing the problem of malnutrition.

The court expressed disappointment over the steps taken by the state and directed that three gynecologists be sent to the Melghat region on a priority basis.

A division bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice M.S. Sonak was hearing a bunch of Public Interest Litigations (PILs) highlighting the rise in malnutrition-induced deaths and illnesses among those living in Maharashtra’s tribal belt, especially the Melghat region, which is a predominantly tribal hilly region in the Amravati district of the state. Different benches of the high court have passed several orders on the matter over the last two years, directing the state government to ensure that those living in tribal areas get adequate nutrition, healthcare, sanitation, and education facilities.

While hearing the petitions on Monday, the court sought to know if the government had so far carried out any scientific study to understand the problems and take
remedial measures.

 “Has any scientific study been carried out to ascertain the requirements in these areas? What kind of medical specialists are required? What infrastructure is needed?” questioned Justice Oka.

Justice Oka also asked the government about the infrastructure that had been put in place to address the problem of malnutrition which had existed in the region for the past two decades.

The bench also wanted to know from the state how many pediatricians and gynecologists had been appointed in the tribal regions of the state.