At least 80 malnurished infants have died in the tribal belts of Satna and Khandwa districts of Madhya Pradesh. Though the BJP govt is refuting the charges by the NGOs working in these blocks a Unicef report suggests that “malnutrition could be one of the reasons”.

"Malnutrition can be one of the factors of these deaths but reports of the 11th Bal Sanjeevani Round stated there were no grade III and IV children reported in the last round (of survey). So chances of food poisoning, heat stroke and weak health status of children must have further compounded the problem and resulted in death of these children," the report said.

 Grade III and IV signify acute malnutrition amongst children. Bal Sanjeevani campaign was initiated to look into the problem as MP has one of the highest child mortality rates in India. According to the state health department statistics, MP lost 82 children per day in 2006-07.

In 2007-08, as many as 80 children died every day. These statistics include post-delivery infant mortality as well as the number of infants succumbing to diseases. It is estimated that over 1500 children in these two tribal belts are malnourished. However the state government refutes the claims and insists that the children have not died because of malnutrition.

“We are taking care of everything and the government is doing its duty," said Minister for Woman and Child welfare, Kusum Singh Mehdele.

On June 21, Madhya Pradesh Right to Food Campaign alleged that five tribal children died due to malnutrition in Hardua and Nakjheer villages in Uchhera block and two succumbed in Majhgawa block in Satna district. The NGO has taken the matter to the Supreme Court and had highlighted the poor implementation of various food-related schemes.