Expressing concern over the magnitude of malnutrition problem in Chhattisgarh, Opposition Congress today alleged that the BJP Government was not serious about the health of children in the State.

Chhattisgarh Congress chief Nandkumar Patel and Leader of Opposition in Assembly Ravindra Chaubey said the prevailing problem of malnutrition among children was a matter of serious concern.

Despite this, the Raman Singh Government is not actively tackling this critical health issue, thus putting the future of society in jeopardy. Nearly 68 per cent children in the tribal-dominated state are victim of malnutrition as they survive on unbalanced diet that lacks certain key nutrients, they claimed.

The BJP Government lacks political will to tackle this problem which is rampant in the State, especially in Sarguja and Bastar regions, the Congress leaders maintained. They claimed that a 6-year-old girl recently died of malnutrition at Karli village in Dantewada district.

The Centre-sponsored Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) is the biggest anti-malnutrition programme in the country. However, in Chhattisgarh ICDS has become a centre of corruption, Patel said.

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