Mumbai: Vikhe-Patil to set up medical centre for Palghar's tribal kids

Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, on Saturday announced his decision to set up a permanent medical centre for tribal children in the Javhar district of Palghar. The leader was visiting the Kalambwadi (Mokhada) area of the district, where two-and-a-half-year-old Sagar Wagh had died of malnutrition last week.

The leader met the family members of the deceased child, before announcing that the medical centre for the children will be set up by the Pravara Medical Trust, along with the Vikhe-Patil Foundation and local NGO Shramjeevi Sanghatana. He said a meeting to finalise the detailed plan for the centre will be held next week.

Stating that the idea to set up a medical centre for the district's tribal children was his personal response to Wagh's untimely demise, Vikhe-Patil said he had primary discussions regarding the matter with the NGO during his visit to Mokhada. He also met the family of Ishwar Savara, another child who died of malnutrition in Khoch of the Mokhada taluka. The leader discussed the issue of malnutrition and consequent deaths with the local elected representatives.

Vikhe-Patil was accompanied by Shramjeevi Sanghatana chief and former legislator Vivek Pandit, former minister Rajendra Gavit, Manish Ganore and Balkrishna Purnekar during his visit to Kalambwadi. The Opposition leader criticised minister for tribal development Vishnu Savara for his reported remarks on Wagh's death and demanded his resignation. He also stated that the Congress will raise the issue of malnutrition in the state assembly and the party members will take to the streets, if required, to provide relief to the victims' families.