Infant Malnutrition Crisis in Melghat Tribal Region

The Bombay High Court recently criticised Maharashtra and Union governments for a lax approach to infant deaths caused by malnutrition in Melghat. From June 2025, 65 infants under six months died due to malnutrition. Over 220 children suffer from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), with half at risk of death without intervention. This crisis reflects long-standing health challenges in the tribal-dominated Melghat region of Amravati.

Background of Malnutrition in Melghat

Melghat is home to the Korku tribal community. Infant and maternal deaths linked to malnutrition have persisted for over 30 years despite government efforts. Data from April 2024 to March 2025 shows 96 infant deaths. Between June and December 2025, 61 children died. Causes include malnutrition, anaemia, sickle cell disease, pneumonia, and delays in treatment due to poor connectivity.

Government Measures and Limitations

The Amravati Zilla Parishad runs a hot food scheme supplying eggs and bananas four times weekly. Village Child Development Centres (VCDCs) monitor SAM cases in all gram panchayats. Officials claim deaths are not solely due to malnutrition but other health issues. However, experts argue malnutrition is an underlying factor in many cases. Coordination between government departments remains weak, leading to irregular nutrition supplement delivery and poor monitoring.

Health Infrastructure Challenges

Melghat faces severe infrastructural deficits. Poor road connectivity delays hospital access. Homes lack reliable electricity. Primary healthcare centres are inadequate. Substance abuse among locals worsens health outcomes. Recruiting and retaining doctors, especially paediatricians and gynaecologists, is difficult. High absenteeism persists despite increased salaries and incentives. Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in Melghat is 16.5, slightly above Maharashtra’s average of 15.

Intergenerational Malnutrition Issues

Many women enter pregnancy underweight and anaemic. This leads to low-birth-weight babies with weak immunity. These infants are more vulnerable to infections and malnutrition. This cycle of malnutrition passes from mother to child, perpetuating poor health outcomes across generations.

Expert-Recommended Solutions

Experts stress that tackling malnutrition requires more than food provision. A robust healthcare system is essential, focusing on nutrition for mothers and children. Training ASHA workers in health knowledge is critical. Addressing co-morbidities through integrated health and nutrition programmes is necessary. Promoting community-based behavioural change can improve health practices. Investment in civic and health infrastructure must increase to support sustainable improvements.

Questions for UPSC:

1. Critically discuss the role of healthcare infrastructure in reducing infant mortality in tribal regions of India, using Melghat as a case study.
2. Analyse the impact of intergenerational malnutrition on child health outcomes and suggest policy measures to break this cycle in rural India.
3. Examine the challenges faced by multi-departmental coordination in implementing nutrition programmes in tribal areas and propose solutions.
4. Estimate the effects of poor connectivity and infrastructure on healthcare delivery in remote regions and how this influences socio-economic development.

Answer Hints:

1. Critically discuss the role of healthcare infrastructure in reducing infant mortality in tribal regions of India, using Melghat as a case study.

1. Healthcare infrastructure deficits in Melghat include inadequate primary health centres and poor hospital accessibility.
2. Poor road connectivity and unreliable electricity delay timely treatment and affect healthcare delivery.
3. High absenteeism among doctors, despite incentives, reduces quality and availability of care.
4. Village Child Development Centres (VCDCs) and nutrition schemes exist but lack integration and comprehensive support.
5. Improved healthcare infrastructure correlates with slight IMR improvement but remains above state average, showing need for systemic strengthening.
6. Robust infrastructure is critical for early diagnosis, treatment of malnutrition, and managing co-morbidities to reduce infant deaths.

2. Analyse the impact of intergenerational malnutrition on child health outcomes and suggest policy measures to break this cycle in rural India.

1. Women entering pregnancy underweight and anaemic lead to low-birth-weight babies with weak immunity.
2. Low-birth-weight infants are more vulnerable to infections and malnutrition, perpetuating poor health outcomes.
3. Intergenerational malnutrition sustains a cycle of poor maternal and child health over decades.
4. Policy measures – improve maternal nutrition through targeted supplementation and antenatal care.
5. Strengthen community health worker training (e.g., ASHA workers) for early detection and counselling.
6. Integrate health, nutrition, and education programmes focusing on adolescent girls and women of reproductive age.

3. Examine the challenges faced by multi-departmental coordination in implementing nutrition programmes in tribal areas and propose solutions.

1. Multiple government departments work in silos, causing irregular supplement delivery and weak monitoring.
2. Lack of data sharing and unified strategy leads to inefficiency and duplication of efforts.
3. Inconsistent programme implementation reduces impact on malnutrition reduction.
4. Solutions – establish interdepartmental coordination committees at district and block levels.
5. Use integrated digital platforms for real-time monitoring and data sharing.
6. Promote joint training and accountability frameworks among health, nutrition, and social welfare departments.

4. Estimate the effects of poor connectivity and infrastructure on healthcare delivery in remote regions and how this influences socio-economic development.

1. Poor road connectivity delays access to hospitals, increasing mortality from treatable conditions.
2. Lack of electricity hampers healthcare facility operations and home-based care (e.g., refrigeration of vaccines).
3. Delayed treatment worsens health outcomes, increasing disease burden and healthcare costs.
4. Health challenges reduce workforce productivity and school attendance, hindering human capital development.
5. Weak healthcare delivery discourages skilled professionals from working in remote areas, perpetuating shortages.
6. Overall, poor infrastructure stunts socio-economic growth by limiting health, education, and livelihood opportunities.