Parliament panel questions delay in response to Baiga child deaths in Madhya Pradesh

Members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment questioned the government over its response to the deaths of Baiga tribe children in Madhya Pradesh’s Balaghat district, asking why there were no clear answers on the cause of the deaths several months after the first cases were reported.

The panel met representatives of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, the Ministry of Jal Shakti’s Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, and the Department of Telecommunications to review the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN).

According to sources, Opposition members questioned why, despite the government’s claims of service saturation in villages identified under the PM-JANMAN, it did not have clear answers on the causes of the deaths. The health crisis in remote tribal settlements of Balaghat has raised concerns over infectious diseases, malnutrition and access to healthcare, with children bearing the brunt of the illness.

As per the Union Health Ministry, the first cases emerged in late June in villages in Birsa block, where several children developed fever, rashes and other symptoms. The official death toll between June and August is six, with officials stating that malaria and measles, including possible co-infection, were among the illnesses identified.

Local representatives, however, have claimed a higher death toll. A Congress MP, however, pointed out that the first death was reported in the Birsa block on May 18 and that the toll could exceed 25. He claimed that the government acknowledged it only by July 20.

Members sought an explanation for the delay in intervention despite provisions for mobile medical units under the scheme. According to sources, representatives of the Jal Shakti Ministry told the panel that they were not aware of the incident.

The Tribal Affairs Secretary later informed the committee that Balaghat, which remained affected by Left-Wing Extremism until 2025, could not fully benefit from the scheme. Meanwhile, the Union Health Ministry and the Madhya Pradesh government have cautioned against attributing all recent deaths and hospitalisations in Balaghat to a single pathogen.

A senior Union Health Ministry official had told The Hindu that investigations were examining the combined role of measles, malaria, respiratory illness, malnutrition, anaemia, dehydration and delayed access to treatment.

The Ministry said affected populations in the tribal settlements had been screened. More than 100 children received treatment by mid-August, while around 400 children were reported to have been hospitalised over six weeks.

Opposition members also pointed out that a National Joint Outbreak Response Team was deployed to Balaghat only on August 12. Six mobile medical units were subsequently mobilised in the Birsa and Baihar blocks. Sources said shortcomings in implementation of the PM-JANMAN scheme drew criticism from members across party lines.

A BJP MP questioned the implementation of the Centre’s “Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal” drinking water programme, stating that while tears were visible in tribal habitations, water was not. Another BJP MP questioned the government’s emphasis on providing only BSNL connectivity in these habitations, citing the company’s limited market presence and asking why alternative service providers were not being considered.

The PM-JANMAN covers notified PVTG populations across 18 States and one Union Territory. The mission aims to benefit around 12.36 lakh households, covering about 48.52 lakh people in more than 30,000 habitations.