No starvation deaths: Gehlot

By Our Special Correspondent

JAIPUR, SEPT. 9. The Rajasthan Chief Minister, Mr. Ashok Gehlot, today visited the Adivasi villages in Kotra tehsil of Udaipur where 11 children had died last week allegedly due to diseases caused by malnutrition.

Mr. Gehlot went around the villages of Mewaron Ka Math, Sanpa Basara, Moti Dang and Thala where the deaths of children had taken place between August 25 and September 5.

Even though the State Government, in a statement on Saturday, had termed the allegations of starvation deaths as incorrect, Mr. Gehlot has ordered an enquiry into the ``deaths.''

He reportedly expressed his displeasure over the delayed response of the local administration to the reports of occurrence of fever and diarrhea among the Adivasi children.

On his return from Udaipur, Mr. Gehlot told `The Hindu' that nobody complained to him about hunger and there were adequate stocks of foodgrains with them.

The local people told Mr. Gehlot, accompanied in his trip by the Pradesh Congress President, Dr. Girija Vyas, that the villagers had informed the patwari and tehsildar about the prevalence of the epidemic when the gram sabha had met in August but immediate action was not initiated. Mewaron Ka Math has a medical sub- centre but the nearest primary health centre is 16 kms away at Malwa Ka Chouraha.

Mr. Gehlot, who announced a relief of Rs. 5000 to each of the kin of the deceased children, sought a report on the deaths within a week. The Relief Minister, Mr. G. S. Shaktawat, and the Panchayati Raj Minister, Dr. C. P. Joshi, and the local MP, Mr. Bhirulal Meena, accompanied Mr. Gehlot during the tour.

The available medical reports said 10 children died from high fever, respiratory infection, lymph node enlargement and dysentery. The new born child who died after two days was said to be a premature delivery.

The medical authorities explain that the patients were first treated at home by the traditional medicines or by the faith healers. By the time they got medical attention it was too late, it was pointed out.

The administration said that the children had died of diseases with symptoms ranging from fever, vomiting, respiratory infection, dysentery and lymph node enlargement in the neck and not by starvation as reported in a section of the visual and print media.

``It was found that each house has a reserve food stock ranging from about 50 to 250 kgs of wheat and other edible items. Revenue officers have personally verified this fact, according to a statement.

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