Thiruvananthapuram:
A day after Kerala Culture Minister K C Joseph blamed alcoholism among pregnant women for infant deaths in the Attappadi adivasi belt, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy defended him by saying the remarks were part of an expert group's report authored by a leading doctor.
Reading from the expert group's report, Mr Chandy said, "Attapadi is a centre of illegal alcohol consumption. Toddy cultivation in Attappadi has been banned but there is heavy consumption of alcohol sourced from nearby Tamil Nadu. The locally brewed arrack is consumed not only by men but also women, including the pregnant. Considering the current situation there is likely to be a big disaster in Attappadi."
The Chief Minister claimed the expert group's report is corroborated by the people in the area and Mr Joseph also said what he heard from the people. He did not make up anything new, he said.
"Consumption of arrack is rampant in tribal colonies of Attappadi. Liquor consumption by expectant mothers is one of the reasons for the death of infants. It is important that they shed the habit to maintain their health," Mr Joseph had said on Monday.
54 infants have died in Attappadi in the last 18 months due to malnutrition.
A survey by a doctor in the region reveals that 100 per cent of the children below the age of six years have varying levels of malnutrition. Another survey revealed that 98 per cent of pregnant women in the village are malnourished.
For two years, various government schemes introduced in the region have failed because of a lack of funds.