A devastating malnutrition crisis in Melghat, located in the Amravati district of Maharashtra, continues to claim the lives of infants, prompting sharp condemnation from the Bombay High Court. The court recently reprimanded both the Maharashtra State and Central governments for failing to address the long-standing issue.
The Melghat region, primarily home to the Korku tribal community, has struggled with newborn mortality and malnutrition for decades. According to reports presented to the High Court, a petition claimed that 65 newborn children (aged 0–6 months) died due to malnutrition in Melghat within five months, starting from June 2025.
Beyond the fatalities, hundreds of severe malnutrition cases are emerging. Judicial intervention highlighted that more than 220 children are categorized as severely malnourished, with the grim assessment that 50% of them could die if timely aid is not provided.
While the issue remains a consistent national concern, the official data is also alarming. The Amravati Zilla Parishad data reveals 96 child deaths occurred between April 2024 and March 2025, with another 61 deaths recorded in the first seven months of the current year. Overall, more than 90 child deaths were registered in the last year.
A Web of Compounding Factors
The government claims that the deaths are not solely attributable to malnutrition, pointing instead to a range of co-morbidities and systemic issues. Officials cite factors such as anemia, sickle cell disease, pneumonia, and delays in treatment caused by a persistent lack of connectivity.
However, experts and observers point to deep-seated systemic failures that have plagued the region for over three decades, despite ongoing government programs aimed at reducing malnutrition.
Key challenges identified in the region include:
Lack of Infrastructure and Access: Poor connectivity means locals cannot reach hospitals in time. There are also challenges with road infrastructure and reliable electricity supply.
Health System Deficiencies: There is a shortage of Primary Health Care Centers (PHCs), and the government struggles to retain doctors in these rural, tribal areas, leading to high rates of absenteeism.
Coordination Failure: Experts note a lack of coordination among the various government agencies and departments working on the issue, compounded by inadequate monitoring.
Intergenerational Malnutrition: A critical challenge is the cycle of poor health. Women often enter pregnancy already malnourished, underweight, and anemic. Consequently, their children are born with low birth weight, weak immunity, and an increased risk of infection.
Solutions Require Infrastructure, Not Just Food
Experts emphasize that merely distributing food or implementing programs like mid-day meals is insufficient to tackle the crisis. The real needs in Melghat, according to specialists, are a robust health infrastructure, comprehensive maternal care, and strong community participation.
Proposed solutions focus on systemic improvements:
Building a quality healthcare system that can provide nutrition for both mother and child.
Establishing civic and health infrastructure.
Creating dedicated groups of ASHA workers and food workers with enhanced health knowledge.
Focusing health and nutrition programs to address co-morbidities.
Promoting community-centered behavioral change.
The Question of Priorities
The Melghat tragedy raises critical questions regarding the priorities of the state government. Maharashtra is recognized as an economically powerful state, with Mumbai contributing significantly to the nation’s economy. Critics argue that the inability to provide basic necessities—doctors, hospitals, and connectivity—to tribal populations in remote areas suggests that the problem is not a lack of competence but a failure of political prioritisation.
For the thousands of vulnerable children in Melghat, their survival hinges on the shift from rhetorical concern to concrete, infrastructural action. The recurring High Court reprimands serve as a reminder that decades of failed policies are exacting a deadly toll.
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