One more dies of malnutrition in Odisha

Keonjhar: With the memories of deaths of 19 children due to malnutrition in Nagada of Jajpur district still fresh, death of a 4-year-old child under similar conditions in Badambi Nahaka sahi of Ghasipura block in Keonjhar district has exposed ground realities of implementation of various welfare schemes at the grassroot level.

As per reports, the malnourished girl Chumki died on Monday while her bother is also battling for life. Not only the children, but also their parents too are suffering from malnutrition and poor health conditions owing to their poverty.

Amid such abject poverty, Nakul Nayak, father of the children, is forced to depend on his  brother who is now looking after the family.

According to reports, Nayak is suffering from tuberculosis and due to lack of source of livelihood, his family often have to go without food for days. They even beg for a living and have no ration card which could ensure food security for the poor family.

"The entire family is suffering from malnutrition and their condition is critical," said one Asha worker Sangeeta Kar.

Meanwhile, the condition in which the family has been living and the death of Chumki clearly shows the apathy of the Odisha government towards the incident of malnutrition deaths in the State. It's an irony that the administration is still in dark about the saddening incident.