Other States - Madhya Pradesh   

Over one lakh underfed M.P. kids die in four years

Bhopal: One lakh twenty-two thousand four hundred and twenty-two. That's the number of “malnutrition-affected” children who have died in Madhya Pradesh over the past four years, according to Health Minister Anup Mishra's confession in the State Assembly earlier this week.

After repeated denials of several independent human rights reports over the past one year, the Government finally admitted that with 60 per cent children affected, malnutrition is a major problem in the State.

While the entire number (122,422) does not directly represent malnutrition deaths, the Minister's answer confirms that malnutrition-affected children are more prone to other diseases like measles, malaria, diarrhoea and pneumonia which eventually cause death.

In a written answer to MLA Mahendra Singh Kalukheda's question, the Minister admitted that 60 per cent of the children in the State are suffering from malnutrition, confirming the figures stated in the National Family Health Survey-III (NFHS-III).

Disturbing trends

The grossly under-developed Bundelkhand region of the State shows some of the most disturbing trends in child deaths. Of the total deaths over the four-year period from 2005-06 to 2008-09, around 13 per cent deaths were reported only from Bundelkhand.

Districts like Tikamgarh, Sagar and Panna in the region show massive increases in child deaths in 2008-09 over 2005-06 figures.

While Tikamgarh shows the maximum increase of 469 per cent, Sagar and Panna show increases of 189 per cent and 273 per cent respectively.

Of the 48 districts mentioned in the answer, seven have had more than 1,000 children dead over a one-year period (2008-09). These include Chhatarpur (1,242) and Sagar (1,481) districts in Bundelkhand.

Besides, other Bundelkhand districts like Panna (626) Tikamgarh (455) and Damoh (621) show a massive increase in child deaths over the 2005-06 figures.

The other districts that have the dubious distinction of 1,000-plus child deaths are Satna (1,856), Betul (1,190), Sidhi (1,122), Balaghat (1,150) and Shivpuri (1,059).

The percentage increase in child deaths over the 2005-06 figures in some other districts is also astounding. These include Betul (112.5%), Sidhi (96%), Dhar (213%) and Khandwa (368%).

Asked about the child health crisis, State Principal Secretary (Health) S.R. Mohanti said the State Government had acknowledged the gravity of the crisis and was making efforts to address it.

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Over one lakh underfed M.P. kids die in four years

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