Maharashtra HC summons Nandurbar Collector over 411 deaths due to Malnutrition
Mumbai: Taking note of a report alleging 411 deaths in Nandurbar District over malnutrition and inadequate medical facilities, the Bombay High Court on Monday issued summon to the District Collector.
"We require the collector of Nandurbar to remain personally present before this court on September 23", stated the High Court bench comprising of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice M. S. Karnik.
The court was considering a batch of Public Interest Litigations (PIL) filed back in 2007 over the deaths of several children, pregnant women and lactating mothers because of malnutrition in the tribal belt of Maharashtra.
Various orders have already been passed since the filing of the PIL petition to address the concerns raised before the High Court bench. The petitioners/applicants have attended the joint meetings organized by the State and have given their suggestions. Pursuant to the report filed by Dr. Dorje, learned Advocate General had on an earlier occasion submitted that the State has formulated long term and short term measures to address the problem.
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As per the latest media report by Live Law, during the hearing of this case, tribal tights activist Bandu Sane had informed the Court in person about the death of 411 people in the district since January 2022. The number includes 86 children who allegedly died to to malnutrition and inadequate health facilities. The petitioner Sane had also submitted that the area doesn't have proper roads and it makes it even more difficult to get access to medical facilities.
In the report, which was prepared by a study group aiming to assist the government to formulate policies for developing these tribal areas, activist Sane referred to the health of children and the health of the mothers in the district.
According to the report majority of the conditions that are resulting in the deaths of these people can be prevented easily or they can be treated as well. However, the child deaths are increasing in this area because health programs have not been implemented properly in this area.
Besides, the report also refers to scarcity of adequate medical facilities and shortage of doctors and other health care staff. Further pointing out the old floating boat hospitals and ambulances that lack proper maintenance, the report also recommends measures for combatting this issue.
Taking note of the report, the HC bench issued directions for serving the report to the Nandurbar District Collector and asked the Collector to file an affidavit in response to the report within September 21, 2022. Although the bench had directed the Collector to file an affidavit on August 17, 2022, no affidavit was filed in this connection. Therefore, the bench has now directed the Collector to appear in person on September 23, 2022.
Apart from this, the Director of Health Services has also been directed by the HC bench for submitting a comprehensive report addressing the issue within September 21.
The daily adds that the issue of scarcity of doctors and healthcare staff in the tribal areas had been raised before the Court during the previous hearing. Back then ,the Chief Justice Datta had suggested that the recruitment of doctors and other staff gets done on similar lines as recruitment in court.
In this context, the bench comprising of Chief Justice Datta said to the Additional Government Pleader Neha Bhinde, "This has to be an annual process. You know when the doctors and staff will retire. Fix a date for publishing advertisement and inviting applications."
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