Kalipani: An Aadhaar enrolment camp was Sunday held at hilltop Nagada village in Sukinda valley of Jajpur district where 16 children have died due to malnutrition over the last five months.
To add to the worries for the administration, a malnutrition case came to light Sunday in nearby village Guhyashala where healthcare has been a dream. Many believe that if immediate steps are not taken, the situation will turn for worse like that of Nagada. Chandan (1), son of Ganeswar, was found affected by malnutrition in the village.
A team from Orissa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (OSCPCR) visited Nagada Saturday. After monitoring the situation at the village Saturday evening, OSCPCR secretary Santoshini Sahu and member Rajlami Das were reportedly shocked over the miserable condition of the residents and observed that malnutrition among children was the main problem plaguing the remote village.
The team members assured all help to the villagers before returning to Bhubaneswar.
Meanwhile, two more kids of Nagada were admitted to Tata hospital Saturday after their condition grew critical. They are Udi Pradhan (1), son of Mangulu Pradhan, and Sukura Pradhan (4), son of Kandra Pradhan.
Paediatric doctor Chinmay Sahu started treatment of the kids.
The visit of OSCPCR has come after health secretary Arati Ahuja Friday directed the district collector to rush in a supervisor and Anganwadi workers to camp in the village for a fortnight and supply sufficient sattu to malnourished children besides other entitlements under the ICDS scheme to children below six years of age and to pregnant women and lactating mothers.
While directing the supervisor and Anganwadi workers to camp in the village for a fortnight, she asked Sukinda child development project officer to visit the camp every alternate day for supervision of activities undertaken in the village. PNN
