File Photo: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today directed state chief secretary to chalk out a workable plan for the total integrated development of tribal children, taking into account their health, educational and nutritional needs.
Mr Fadnavis gave the directions after a meeting with a delegation from the tribal region of Palghar district over the issue of large number of malnourished children.
The delegation, led by NGO Shramjivi Sanghatana's chief Vivek Pandit, submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister listing the various issues faced by the tribal children, following the closure of the Village Child Development Centre (VCDC) by the Central government.
The Chief Minister, after hearing the view points of the delegation, directed the chief secretary to prepare a comprehensive and workable action plan to resolve the issue.
As an immediate measure, he directed that a programme on the lines of VCDC be started in the state out of funds available from the tribal development department.
Notably, hundreds of tribals had on Saturday gheraoed state Tribal Development Minister Vishnu Sawra at his residence to protest alleged apathy of the government towards malnutrition among children in the district.
According to an official statement, the number of malnourished children, falling under SAM (severe acute malnutrition) and MAM (moderate acute malnutrition), in Palghar district is over 5,500.