Jhabua District, Bhopal: In two extremes of India's supply chain, whilesurplus grain worth crores of rupees is rotting away in Punjab, malnutritionleads to the death of 83 children every day in Madhya Pradesh. This ishappening for the last four years. (Read and Watch: Farmers plight as surplus grain rots) For months Kommudi's family has only eaten corn powder boiled with water twice a day. Both her children are entitled to get lunch at the village anganwadi but Kommudi is too weak to take them there.
Rewibai, Kommudi's Mother-in-law: "No one has come to see us. We have no money for their treatment."
Satna, Khandwa, Dhar, Shivpuri, Sheopur, Sidhi, Rewa, Khargone, Jhabua, this is emerging as the most improverished belt of India, tribal Madhya Pradesh.
Here malnourishment-related deaths among children have become like an epidemic.
Agreeing with a state-wide survey the Health Department says as many 60% of Madhya Pradesh's children are malnourished.
Madhya Pradesh2009 findings: 60% of children malnourished
Diseases caused by malnutrition has killed over 1.2 lakh children in the last four years which means 83 children died everyday.
Madhya Pradesh
2005-2009- 1,22,420 malnutrition-related deaths
- 83 deaths a day
The situation in Jhabua where Kommudi lives is the worst. In recent months 43 children have died in malnutrition-related ailments.
Jhabua Nov 2009 to Jan 2010: 43 Children Died
A survey in the district shows 7% infants in Jhabua die before their first birthday.
Jhabua 2008 survey: 70 of 1,000 infants die before they turn 1
"Malnutrition actually creates an environment for various kind of diseases and in that particular context it is the very fundamental thing that Women and Child Development and the Health Department have to come together and create a programme to handle this problem of malnutrition in the state," says Sachin Jain, Adviser to the Supreme Court Commissioners On Right To Food.
Ranjana Baghel, Minister, Women and Child Development says she refuses to make any commitments in this regard.
So, who then is accountable for these deaths? Until and unless the two crucial departments bridge their differences the fight against malnutrition in Madhya Pradesh will never be won.