Jhabua:
Krishna Teerath is the only minister to visit Jhabua in recent memory. The Union Minister for Women and Child Welfare came calling after NDTV reported that 43 children have died here in three months in malnutrition-related diseases.
So acute is the crisis that seven per cent infants in Jhabua die before their first birthday.
The district's aaganwadis, meant to provide food to children up to six years of age have no supplies for months. Grains meant for hungry children have been lost in the food chain of corruption.
The minister decided to visit Kallipura aaganwadi.
As news came in, children were gathered hurriedly - washed and brushed.
In their hurry though, officials had forgotten the most important thing: Food.
When the minister asked the children whether they got any breakfast, all the replies she got were negative.
The minister lost her cool when she found that there was no arrangement for lunch either.
Teerath: Where is the food?
Aanganwadi worker: It will come soon.
Teerath: But you said earlier that the food is being cooked here?
Aanganwadi worker: (Silence)
In the aaganwadhi at Bagorh, local officers almost put up a successful show - Hot khichdi.
But the children had no plates to eat on.
''If things don't improve today onwards, I will take action,'' said Krishna Teerath, Union Minister for Women and Child Welfare.
The minister, reporting back to the Prime Minister has demanded a fortnightly progress report.
She said if need be she will come again and again to monitor the improvement.