Congress Slams BJP Over Deaths of 25 Tribal Children

NEW DELHI — The Congress on Monday targeted the BJP governments in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra over the deaths of 22 tribal children due to malnutrition and diseases in Balaghat and the deaths of three tribal girls following snakebites at a hostel in Gadchiroli.

The party demanded impartial investigations into both incidents and action against officials found responsible.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, AICC Tribal Department chairman Dr Vikrant Bhuria alleged that the two incidents reflected the “appalling” condition of tribal communities under BJP governments in the two states.

Bhuria demanded the constitution of special committees to conduct immediate and impartial investigations into both incidents and sought direct action against officials found responsible.

He also called for an immediate fire and infrastructure safety audit of all tribal hostels, the inclusion of protein-rich food in the nutritional diet of tribal children, and the disposal of pending claims under the Forest Rights Act to ensure land rights and employment opportunities for tribal communities.

Balaghat deaths

Raising the Balaghat issue, Bhuria said 22 children belonging to the particularly vulnerable Baiga tribal community had died due to malnutrition, malaria and measles.

He rejected the government's reported figure of eight deaths, alleging that the administration was attempting to suppress the actual extent of the tragedy.

According to Bhuria, door-to-door delivery of nutritional supplements had remained unavailable in the affected areas for the past six months. He also alleged that the ration being distributed was of poor quality and lacked adequate nutritional value.

He said the nearest primary health centre was around 20 kilometres away and vaccination coverage in the affected areas was below 80 per cent, contributing to the rapid spread of diseases.

Bhuria also criticised the assistance of only Rs 20,000 provided to affected families.

“Today, the value of a tribal child's life in the country is merely Rs 20,000,” he said sarcastically.

He said the problem lay with a system in which thousands of crores of rupees were allocated in the name of tribal development, yet it remained unclear where the money actually went.

He added that the deaths of 22 children from malnutrition were particularly tragic given that India's President and the Governor of Madhya Pradesh themselves come from tribal communities.

Questions over malnutrition funds

Citing replies given by the state government in the Assembly, Bhuria questioned the allocation of funds for combating malnutrition.

He said the government was spending only Rs 12 per day on nutritional food for a severely malnourished child.

He further said that the provision for nutrition and treatment of a child at rehabilitation centres meant for severely weak and critically malnourished children was only Rs 980.

Bhuria said it was deeply concerning that the Department of Women and Child Development had admitted that there was no separate budget provision for malnutrition eradication schemes in tribal blocks.

According to him, the programme was being left largely dependent on funding from the Central government.

Gadchiroli hostel deaths

Bhuria also highlighted conditions at a tribal girls' hostel in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district.

He said more than 70 girls were forced to sleep on the floor in a single room because of a shortage of beds.

According to Bhuria, six girls were bitten by a snake and three of them died.

He said the incident showed that the basic needs and safety of tribal students were being ignored.

He also pointed out that the hostel windows did not have protective mesh, raising concerns about the safety of the students.

Attack on Maharashtra government

Taking a dig at the Maharashtra government, Bhuria pointed out that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis himself is the minister in charge of Gadchiroli.

He alleged that Fadnavis became the minister in charge of the region because of its mines, with the aim of benefiting large industrialists.

Citing media reports, Bhuria claimed that between 550 and 600 children had died in tribal hostels across Maharashtra over the past two years.

He also said tribal students in Nashik were currently on hunger strike, demanding improvements in hostel infrastructure and living conditions.

Congress demands accountability

Bhuria reiterated that both incidents required independent investigations and accountability, along with structural reforms in tribal welfare, nutrition, healthcare and hostel safety.

He demanded immediate safety audits of tribal hostels across the country, including checks on fire safety and basic infrastructure.

He also called for improved nutritional support, particularly protein-rich food for tribal children, and better access to healthcare in remote tribal areas.

The Congress leader further demanded that pending claims under the Forest Rights Act be cleared to ensure tribal communities receive their land rights and access to employment opportunities.

Bhuria said Adivasis have the foremost right to this country.

However, he argued that the continued prevalence of malnutrition, inadequate healthcare facilities and the dilapidated condition of tribal hostels raise serious questions about government priorities.

He said the situation compels one to ask whether the country is truly moving towards development when tribal children continue to die from preventable causes and tribal students are forced to live in unsafe conditions.