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In a state that has the highest number of malnourished children under six, it is no surprise the government gets defensive when children die merely due to common ailments like fever.
Almost two years after 116 children reportedly died due to fever and diarrhoea in Sheopur district, the Madhya Pradesh government is yet again in denial about the prevalance of malnutrition in the district.
According to a media report, a malnourished seven-month-old girl died during treatment at Gajaraja Medical College in Gwalior July 4, sparking allegations that it was the fourth death due to malnutrition in the fortnight in the district.
The girl was taken to the National Rehabilitation Centre in Sheopur where 15 children were being treated for malnourishment before she was taken to the medical college where she was declared dead, says the report.
The government, says the report, denies that the girl died due to malnutrition.
In 2016, when the government came under criticism for malnutrition-related deaths, it swung into action, admitting 155 children in an anganwadi centre in Karahal that had space for only 20.
The situation is similar in other districts as Down To Earth had previously reported.
In 2015, 74 per cent children were reported anaemic and 60 per cent malnourished in the state. The latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4), released in January 2016, also underscores high pre-valence of malnutrition in the state. About 42 per cent of under-five children are underweight (low weight for age), 42 per cent stunted (low height for age) and 25.8 per cent wasted (low weight for height).