PALAKKAD: What is happening in Attapadi is not tribal infant deaths but their murder, said leader of opposition VD Satheesan on Monday.
A UDF delegation led by Satheesan visited tribal hamlets and hospitals in Attapadi on Monday when the tribeswomen shared their woes with the leaders at the government inaction and lack of medical and other facilities for those living in faraway tribal hamlets.
“It is condemnable that health minister Veena George, during her visit, did not announce any new schemes for resolving the health problems, including the deaths of infants, in Attapadi. The present tragedy is due to the destruction by the LDF government of an old system that was in force,” alleged Satheesan.
“Gone are the days when the then Oommen Chandy government (2015) would hold a mini-cabinet meeting in Attappadi and launch a number of schemes, after taking stock of the situation. Today what we came to know is that most of the schemes have been discontinued by this government,” he added.
He alleged that the recent visit by the health minister on Sunday has not improved the situation in Attappadi and instead the only change was a reduction in medical facilities available there. “There is no coordination of the works of various departments engaged in tribal welfare in Attapadi. The nodal officer was deliberately kept away during the health minister’s visit here. This is suspicious,” Satheesan said.
“Earlier, many schemes were implemented and many benefits were extended to the target groups –— pregnant women, lactating mothers, adolescent girls and tribal infants. The scheme of providing a Rs 2,000-monthly assistance to all the pregnant women here from their third month of pregnancy to be continued for the next 15 months, which included money for post-natal care, has all been discontinued,” he said.
Satheesan was accompanied by UDF convener MM Hassan, Mannarkkad MLA N Shamsudheen, CMP leader CP John, among others.
Tribal outfits on dharna
Meanwhile, tribal organizations in Attapadi sat on a dharna on Monday in front of Kottathara tribal specialty hospital demanding that the government should address their problems and resolve them.
Inaugurating the dharna, TR Chandran, convener of Attapadi action council, demanded an inquiry into the funds spent for tribespeople in the last 10 years in Attapadi.
