Pics: Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (PS)
Mangalore, May 12: High Court Judge Justice N K Patil said that the situation in the ‘Anganawadis’ of the district is satisfactory when compared to other parts of the state. He was addressing reporters at Circuit House on Friday May 11 after inspecting five Anganawadi centers which were selected randomly by the committee formed for checking the malnutrition cases in the state. He said he visited two Anganawadi centers in Uppinangady, one in Sampya, one in Eshwarmangala and also said that three children in Uppinangady suffered malnutrition.
The visit was in the backdrop of the High Court order to investigate the matter of malnutrition cases across the state and submit the report before June 12, 2012. The news telecast on September 22, 2011, on TV9 channel showed pictures of children who were starving and dying especially in Markaladinni village, Deodurg taluk, Raichur district.
When asked if there were possibilities of ‘best’ Anganawadis being checked, Justice Patil said that the DC, CEO, health officer, and Women and Child Development officials will be held responsible for any negligence. He also said that deficiency of infrastructure is another concern for the committee during the inspection conducted.
Vimochana Sangha in Belgaum had written a letter (dated September 23, 2011) addressed to the chief justice of the High Court of Karnataka informing about the telecast of the news and to take steps in the matter, following which the High Court constituted a committee of nine members under the leadership of Justice Patil to prepare an ‘action plan’ to prevent the death of children on account of malnutrition in the state of Karnataka, especially in Gulbarga, Bagalkot, Belgaum, Kolar, and Chikkaballapur districts.
He also said that the committee requests experts in the field of nutrition and health care of children, the public, and NGOs to send their valuable suggestions in writing within seven days to Member Secretary, Karnataka state legal services authority, Nyaya Degula, 1st Floor, H Siddaiah Road, Bangalore 27. Also communications must be sent to the email id karslsa@gmail.com.
DC Dr N S Channappa Gowda was present during the press conference.