At least 64 children, below the age of six, died everyday due to malnutrition in Madhya Pradesh in 2016, making the BJP-ruled state to have one of the worst child mortality rate, Outlook India reported.
The BJP was reportedly forced to release the original figures after it came under severe criticism by the former Chief Minister of the state, Babulal Gaur.
Quoting Gaur, Outlook India reported:
The Health departments report stated that 116 malnourished children died last year, but Minister for Women and Child Development (Archana Chitnis) is claiming that no death was reported due to malnutrition during 2015 and 2016.
Minister for Women and Child Development Archana Chitnis had told Hindustan Times that 25,440 children under six years of age lose their lives to diseases like diarrhoea and measles.
Madhya Pradesh not only has one of the lowest infant mortality rate, but also the highest death rate in rural areas, with over 8 deaths per 1,000 people per year.
(With inputs from Outlook India.)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)