Bhopal, Sep 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) The deaths of more than 30 children in the tribal-dominated areas of Madhya Pradesh’s Balaghat district have escalated into a major political issue, with the Congress intensifying its criticism of the state government.
Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to visit the affected villages on October 1 to meet the families of the deceased children.
Madhya Pradesh Assembly Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar shared details of the visit on social media, confirming that LoP Rahul Gandhi will tour the Baihar and Birsa regions.
Reports indicate that more than 30 children have died over the past few months in these tribal-dominated villages.
Many of the deceased children belonged to the Baiga and Gond communities.
Discrepancies persist between figures cited by the administration and those reported by other sources, with reports in September placing the death toll above 30.
Villagers and the opposition have highlighted the lack of healthcare facilities, malnutrition, contaminated water and delays in medical treatment as key concerns.
Investigations so far have not identified any single disease or virus as the sole cause of the deaths.
A Central investigation has pointed to multiple factors, including measles, malaria, infections, respiratory issues, dehydration, malnutrition, anaemia and shock.
The Congress has consistently questioned the state government on the matter, and LoP Rahul Gandhi had earlier criticised the administration over the issue.
His planned visit is being seen as an effort to raise the issue at the national level.
Earlier, Abhijit Dipke, chief of the Cockroach Janata Party, visited the affected tribal villages, met the families of the deceased children and raised questions about healthcare facilities and the administrative response.
Videos also emerged showing alleged arguments and protests involving residents and social media content creators during related visits.
The issue has also reached the courts.
While hearing a Public Interest Litigation, the Jabalpur Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court directed the state government to submit documents and a response regarding the deaths of the children.
Meanwhile, the administration said it has strengthened health monitoring, testing, and treatment arrangements in the affected areas.
The Health Department is conducting an intensive campaign across 57 villages in the Birsa and Baihar regions of Balaghat district to curb seasonal ailments.
As many as 1,255 children have been given iron syrup, while 1,145 have received Albendazole tablets.
Under the vaccination drive, 284 children were immunised across six sessions on September 28.
So far, 28,296 children have been vaccinated through 689 sessions.
A press note issued on Tuesday said that, by September 28, 45,458 people had been screened, and 7,549 patients were identified, including cases of cold, fever, malaria, measles and skin diseases.
Of these, 6,861 received treatment at home and 688 were hospitalised. A total of 662 patients have recovered.
The administration said that the focus remains on child health, with Vitamin A, ORS, zinc, iron syrup and Albendazole being distributed to thousands of beneficiaries.
Vaccination and mosquito-control measures, including insecticide spraying and fogging, are continuing alongside ongoing surveillance, it added.
Source: IANS
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