Bhubaneswar, Aug 27: In the death case of 19 Juang tribal at Nagada village due to malnutrition that had created an outcry in the State last month, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to chief secretary seeking a detailed report within four weeks on the deaths.
Acting upon the petition filed by Pradip Pradhan, convener and member of advisory group of NHRC on right to food, the commission issued the notice on August 11. Pradhan had allegedly mentioned in the petition that 19 children of the Nagada village died due to malnutrition and people trek 10 km from Deogaon village under Chungudipal gram panchayat to reach Nagada as there is no road to the village.
On the issue, the commission also issued a notice to the secretary, health and family welfare, and directed the secretary to take proper action in the matter within eight weeks.
As the government had failed to implement development projects and due to the lack of any food security programme in last 10 years, the NHRC was informed about food crisis in the village. Pradhan further said that before the malnutrition death issue was brought by the media to the forefront, no government officer had visited the village.
He requested the commission for immediate intervention in the matter as the people in the village don’t have access to proper food or nutrition.
