Maharashtra minister to visit 'hunger death' village

Chief secretary Swadhin Kshatriya told mediapersons on Monday that women and child development minister Pankaja Munde will be visiting Kalambwadi village in Mokhada Taluka of Palghar district on Wednesday. "Senior government officials will also accompany minister Munde," said Kshatriya.

Munde's visit comes two days after tribal development minister Vishnu Savara visited the village where two-and-a-half-year-old Sagar Wagh died of malnutrition a fortnight ago. Sagar's family refused to meet Savara during the latter's visit.

Weighing in on the malnutrition deaths of children in Palghar recently, Kshatriya said, "There is a pressing need to bring all tribal welfare schemes under umbrella to prevent future (malnutrition) deaths." He added that the state's infant mortality rate has improved through the effective implementation of various welfare schemes.

"Extending welfare schemes to tribals will bring down the number of malnutrition deaths significantly," said Kshatriya.