Bhubaneswar, Aug 1: To take a look of the situation in the Nagada village in Jajpur district, where 18 children died due to malnutrition in the last three months, a five-member team of the Union Health Ministry will be visiting the village.
As per sources, after the team returns from Nagada, it will hold discussions with the concerned authorities of the State government.
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) had asked the State government to submit a report in ten days, on the situation in the village, which is inhabited by people of primitive Juang tribe.
A letter has been written by Priyanka Kanungo, Commission member to the Odisha Chief Secretary, asking him to explain the reason behind the child deaths and to also list the steps taken by the government to relieve the situation.
The Women and Child Welfare department has also sought a report from the Jajpur district Collector as it was asked by the Chief Minister’s Office to do so within three days from July 20 after the Nagada incident was highlighted in the media.
Meanwhile, Prasad Harichandan, PCC chief, questioned heavily on the state government commenting Nagada village reveals the true colors of BJD government’s as far as development is taking into consideration, where a total of 1.40 crore people all over the state are suffering from malnutrition, it seems as if this government is also one of them.
On the other side, refuting the charges, BJD Spokesperson, Sashi Bhusan Behera said that the government has undergone several malnutrition eradication measures in the state and so those who all are aiming to defame the government will never be successful.
