Thursday, Jun 06, 2013
Thiruvananthapuram:
Kerala’s much-acclaimed social sector success model has taken a dent with relentless media coverage of the pitiable state of some tribals in their hamlets in Attapady in the state’s Palakkad district. Federal minister for rural development, Jairam Ramesh and state chief minister Oommen Chandy toured the district Thursday, in an effort to appreciate and solve the multiple problems afflicting the villagers, including nutritional deficiency.
Local media reports indicate that over two dozen tribal children have died in Attapady over the past six months alone. Many of the deaths are attributed to malnutrition, poor maternal health conditions and deficiency in post-maternal care. The Palakkad district borders Tamil Nadu state.
The state government has announced a package for the health delivery system in the area, and the visit of the federal minister along with the chief minister is seen as a commitment to better health services from the ruling Congress party.
A team of state ministers accompanied Ramesh and Chandy, including M.K. Muneer, V.S. Sivakumar , A.P. Anilkumar and P.K. Jayalakshmi. The team visited the Palur and Nellipathy villages. In their interaction with the leaders, the villagers demanded a stop to the flow of spurious liquor, steps to curb malnutrition and setting up of a hospital with at least basic medical facilities.
Opposition leader V.S. Achuthanandan has called for an inquiry into the deaths of tribal children in Attapady, blaming the United Democratic Front government for the neglect of tribals. He said the government ought to inquire whether tribal lands were being usurped by others and that tribals should be provided adequate land so that they can carry out their traditional cultivation, instead of luring them with freebies.
Attapady’s social sector status contrasts Kerala’s otherwise positive social sector picture that is marked by low infant mortality, high life expectancy and high literacy, which can match the respective parameters of even developed countries.
By Akhel Mathew Correspondent
Gulf News 2013. All rights reserved.
