Bhubaneswar: Expressing concern over the incident wherein 36 children in Kendrapada were taken ill reportedly after consuming expired de-worming syrup facilitated by Ashas and ANMs in 2014, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a show cause notice to the Chief Secretary (CS) to explain within six weeks as to why the state should not give Rs 10 lakh to each of the victims.
The NHRC move came while hearing a plea filed by rights activist Akhand. The petitioner had informed the apex rights body that as many as 36 children between the age group of one and 10 in Behula village under Garadapur block in the coastal district of Kendrapada were given de-worming syrup by local Ashas and ANMs November 5, 2014.
The children, however, complained of nausea, vomiting, headache and stomach ache soon after consuming the syrup. Later it was discovered that the syrup that was administered to the children, was a dated one.
Attributing the goof-up to the sheer negligence of the Health department officials, Akhand moved the rights body seeking action against the officials as well as compensation for the innocent children.
Taking up the plea, the commission had served notice on Health secretary and sought to know about the measures initiated by it.
The Health department report confirmed that the expired Albendazole syrup was given to the children. The department, however, later tried to cover up the issue on several pretexts.
Recently, the state government blamed the Ashas and ANMs for the goof-up. The commission, however, refuted entertaining the report saying that it is the doctors and medical officers who should take decision on the drugs. And under such circumstances, the doctors and medical officers should check the expiry date of the drugs as well. Hence action should be taken against the Health officials.
Although the Health department’s report also hinted at the possibility of involvement of some locals in the goof-up, the commission, however, nixed the report.
The commission observed that it is the callousness of the state government for which innocent children had to bear the brunt. Hence, the children should be adequately compensated. The state government should provide Rs 10 lakh to each of the children (Rs 3.60 crore in total).
