411 Deaths Due To Malnutrition: Bombay High Court Summons Nandurbar District Collector

The Bombay High Court on Monday summoned the Collector of Nandurbar district over high number of child and maternal deaths in the district due to malnutrition and lack of adequate medical facilities.

Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice M. S. Karnik were hearing a batch of PILs filed in 2007 related to death of several children, pregnant women and lactating mothers due to malnutrition in the tribal areas of the state.

"We require the collector of Nandurbar to remain personally present before this court on September 23", the court stated.

Bandu Sane, tribal rights activist and intervenor in the matter informed the court in person that 411 people had died in the district since January 2022 including 86 children due to malnutrition and lack of medical facilities. He also submitted that the area doesn't have proper roads which exacerbates the problem of access to medical care.

Sane submitted a report regarding the health of children and maternal health in the district before the court. The report was prepared by study group with the purpose of assisting the government in formulating policies for the development of tribal areas.

The report states that the majority of the conditions causing deaths are preventable or easily treatable. However, health programs haven't been properly implemented in the area resulting in increased child deaths.

The report notes a lack of adequate medical facilities and shortage of doctors and other health care staff. The floating boat hospitals and ambulances are quite old and lack proper maintenance. It also provides some recommendations to combat the issue.

The court directed that this report be served to the Collector of Nandurbar district who will file an affidavit in reply to this report and the petitions before September 21^st, 2022.

The court on August 17^th, 2022 had also directed the Collector to file an affidavit in this matter. However, no affidavit was filed. Therefore, the court directed the collector to appear in person on September 23^rd, 2022.

The court also directed the Director of Health Services to submit a comprehensive report about the issue before September 21^st, 2022.

The issue of shortage of doctors and other healthcare staff in the tribal areas had been brought up before the court in the previous hearing. Chief Justice Datta suggested that the recruitment of doctors and other staff be done on similar lines as recruitment in court. "This has to be an annual process. You know when the doctors and staff will retire. Fix a date for publishing advertisement and inviting applications," Chief Justice Datta said to Neha Bhide, Additional Government Pleader for the state.

Case no. – PIL/133/2007

Case title – Dr Rajendra Sadanand Burma and Anr. v. State of Maharashtra and Ors.

Coram – Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice M. S. Karnik