Thread by @fpjindia

#BombayHighCourt bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Girish Kulkarni to shortly hear PIL pertaining to malnutrition deaths of children, pregnant & lactating mothers in tribal belt of #Maharashtra.

Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhakoni tells the bench that officials of the state conducted a three days tour of the entire tribal belt at #Melghat

"All health facilities were visited and all issues were addressed," AG tells the bench.
#BombayHighCourt

AG: We have prepared two reports on the available facilities at #Melghat. 15 teams of medical officers have been formed to check facilities in #Amravati #Dharni & #Chikaldhara tribal regions in the state.

#BombayHighCourt

AG: Nodal officers have been appointed to keep track of the medical facilities at these tribal regions.

Certain good things have been highlighted by us in our reports. Good things, we observed and that can be replicated in other regions.

#BombayHighCourt

CJ: Has there been any mapping as to how many women are pregnant and children between age of 0 to 6 years?

AG: Yes. Primary Health Centres have the data. Health cards have been prepared.

#BombayHighCourt
#TribalLives

CJ: Mr AG, next time, we want the actual data of such women and children, so that there is proper monitoring.

What about sensitisation of tribal people asking them not to visit #Tantriks when they fall ill?

Activist Rajendra Burma, who filed the petition: Almost 20 children have died in last month. Availability of Gynaecologists, Pediatricians is yet a big issue. From last year, 700 plus children have died in both #Nandurbar & #Nashik

J Kulkarni: Mr AG, the photographs you submitted for visit, doesn't speak of the ground reality or have anything to do with #Tribal people.

There is no word on how many doctors visited the sites?

CJ: Mr AG, we had observed last time that state legal services authority officials visit door-to-door of these tribal people to check if they have any legal matters to be addressed. Visiting primary health centers won't resolve this problem, I hope you got what I mean to say.

J Kulkarni: What possibly, we require is, data as per each area. For instance, in #Dharni, how many hospitals are there and what is the staff strength. Then how many pregnant women in these areas, children unwell and below 6 years, so that we can consider each area.

J Kulkarni: Unless we have such a data, we won't be able to properly monitor the issue.

CJ: Mr AG, we just thinking, for two to three days your officers visited these places. Why don't you associate Dr Dorje, he is an IPS officer and also a doctor.

CJ: He has done a great job in prisons. He hails from the north-east part of our country, which has more #tribals. So Dr Dorje would be visiting as our (this Court's) officer and not officer of the state. We would want a separate report from him.

CJ: Till then, provide Gynaecologist & Pediatricians at the earliest to these areas.

Burma now points out that some deputed doctors are also indulged in private practice.

Kulkarni: We have heard only demand of Gynaecologists n Pediatricians from Mr Burma. Mr AG what's the...

...issue? Why aren't people appointed? Please ensure there is some accountability. If someone is recruited then s/he must be there on duty. Give us area wise data of this too. Have people joined services or not.

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J Kulkarni: Between September 9 till today, has there been any deaths?

Burma: 20 deaths of children.

J Kulkarni: What is this Mr AG?

AG: No, we are yet to check the cause of death. Not all deaths are due to malnutrition.

AG: We have to collate proper data.

J Kulkarni: Mr AG, at least you should be getting proper data. Our prime concern is to control deaths at the earliest. This shouldn't happen like this.

CJ: We should be given facts and figures. Say for eg. a Gynaecologist checked these...

...many women in a month's time or something. We aren't given proper facts and figures Mr AG.

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J Kulkarni: When you give data on cause of death. It might be Pneumonia etc. But ultimately all this would arise out of what? You have to be very clear on cause of death Mr AG.

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CJ: Mr AG, had these areas been nearer to #Mumbai we both would have personally visited the site.

CJ: Consider giving incentives to doctors, who are working there in these regions.

Can some more NGOs be encouraged to visit these places?

Adv Uday Warunjikar, who represents Kasturba Adivasi Mahila Manch, a petitioner NGO working for tribals, intervenes and tells the bench that six different NGOs have petitioned this court.

They have only met Khoj Melghat NGO and not all of us for suggestions etc.

Adjourned till October 25. Till then Dr Dorje to visit these areas and prepare a report.
@CMOMaharashtra ordered to do mapping of pregnant women, children below age of 6 in all areas.