A division bench of Justices N H Patil and G S Kulkarni of Bombey High court has sought to know from the Maharastra BJP government to know from the Maharashtra government regarding the distributes nutritious food to children and lactating mothers living in the tribal belt of the state. The court raised the question earlier this week while hearing a bulk of PILs highlighting increase of graph in malnutrition deaths and illnesses among the population living in the Melghat region of Vidarbha and other tribal areas across the Maharashtra.
Different benches of the high court have passed several orders on the issue over the last two years, directing the government to ensure that people in the tribal areas get adequate nutritious food, proper health care, sanitation and education facilities.
The court took the chart on record and asked government about its planning and policies to know what needful exercise being taken to provide food to children and lactating mothers.
On July 17, the government submitted before the HC a chart indicating the number of health camps held in Melghat, Amravati district, to address the issue of malnutrition.The chart also shows about the government strategy to take appropriate steps for the children, new born, and women so as to provide them medical aid.
“The government pleader shall take instructions as to whether the departments concerned of the state machinery distribute nutritious food to children and lactating mothers,” the court said.
The bench posted the petitions for further hearing on August 1.
The Higher court also instructed government to keep checking and put a close watch on the departments of the state machinery distribute nutritious food to children and lactating mothers.
