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‘These People Don’t Eat Properly’

Kerala chief minister on what some activists call the ‘infant genocide’ in Kerala

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‘These People Don’t Eat Properly’
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Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy rec­e­ntly received the prestigious UN Public Service Award (2013) for the Asia-Pacific for his mass contact programme. But his healing touch is yet to take effect in Attapady. The tribals there say they have sent numerous petitions to him about what some activists call the ‘infant genocide’ in Kerala. His government did announce a special package in May but babies are still dying everyday. The Centre sent a team to Attapady last week and this is what an exasperated T.K.A. Nair, advisor to the prime minister, had to ask: “There are 500 paramedical staff available in Attapady, why can’t they take care of 600 pregnant tribal women?” Outlook’s Minu Ittyipe spoke to CM Chandy. Excerpts:

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The special Attapady package was announced two months back but babies are still dying there.  Why is this happening?

I went there in the first week of June. Senior officers, both from the Centre and the state, are constantly visiting the place. We have given special charge to a retired IAS officer, S. Subbaiah, to monitor the situation. These are cases of malnutrition and it cannot be stopped in a day. It will take awhile. Another problem is that these people don’t eat properly. Besides rice and green gram, we have also added ragi to the free rations.

Malnutrition among Kerala’s children is 26-39 per cent, according to a CAG report on the state. Is there going to be another special fund allocation?

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With the implementation of the Food Security Act, malnutrition will be addressed to a large extent. We plan to deal with it through anganwadis and schools.

When you were in the Opposition, you had promised that forest lands in the possession of Suzlon Energy will be returned to the tribals. Will that happen?

There is a proposal from them that the tribals can earn a monthly rental income from this. Hopefully, the land will be in the names of the tribals soon.

There is no transportation, water supply and many of the houses do not have sanitation in Attapady. Any urgent measures being taken to rectify this?

Many of the adivasis even now don’t use the available toilets. We have appointed volunteers to try and change that. There is a lot of work to be done there and we are doing it. The results will show soon.

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