HC warns Maha Govt over death in tribal areas due to lack of medical aid, malnutrition

On Monday, the state's counsel, Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhakoni, submitted an affidavit listing out steps and schemes the state proposed to implement or was already implementing for the aid of its tribal population.

Kumbhakoni further said the state government was committed to improving the lives of the tribal population. However, he said, its welfare schemes often hit some roadblocks due to issues such as the tribal belief in seeking treatment from quacks or ''tantriks'' instead of doctors, as well as their traditional customs, etc.

He further said the state was providing ration, nutritional supplies and medical kits, etc to such areas to check malnutrition, but most of the tribal population remained thin due to its ''DNA.'' ''Tribal people are naturally thin. They are bones and skin. I have never come across a fat tribal person,'' Kumbhakoni said in court.

The petitioner, advocate Jugal Gilda, however, told HC that most of the state's policies were not properly implemented.

The HC then said it won't dispose of the plea till the situation on the ground improved.

''We are going to monitor the situation closely. We will ask the state government to file reports every fortnight,'' it said. A detailed order of the high court is awaited.

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