Attapadi:
Thirty infants have died in Attapadi, a tribal village in Kerala, in the last five months due to malnutrition. Last year, there were 16 similar deaths.
Ponama Maruthan, a resident of Attapadi, lost her twins to malnutrition in March. Born prematurely in the sixth month, both were underweight, with one weighing less than 600 grams.
23-year-old Smitha, who lost her two-year-old child, says, "Doctors said he had developed other sicknesses due to malnutrition and lack of blood. Many mothers in the region have a similar story to tell.
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, which in turn results in underweight babies, many of whom are malnourished and are likely to die within a few years of birth.
"There have been few infant deaths even in the hospital. There is a close relationship between these deaths and malnutrition," Dr Rajesh Paediatrician at the Tribal Speciality Hospital in Attapadi said.
The farmers here, who earlier owned their own land, have declined into poverty, allegedly after the land mafia occupied their land. The worst affected were the women and children.
"Earlier everyone had cereals, and handful of vegetables to eat from their own courtyard, now many of them doesn't have any land to grow these things on," says Mr Ramu of NGO Thampu says.
The situation is so critical, that the Kerala High court sent a notice to the state last week on appointing a judicial commission to probe the cause of deaths.
For two years, various government schemes introduced in the region have failed because of a lack of funds. Recently, the village has seen several high profile visits, new packages being announced, and efforts being made to deliver the services effectively. However, it is yet to be seen if these efforts will help see a decline in the number of infant deaths in the region due to malnutrition.