Row over Attappadi infant deaths UDF CPI M trade charges as Health minister to visit region

    Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 30 (PTI) A political war of words has erupted in Keralam over the recent deaths of infants in Attappadi, one of the state's most backward tribal settlements, ahead of Health Minister K Muraleedharan's visit to the region on Saturday to assess the situation and ensure urgent interventions.

    The Congress-led UDF government has come under sharp criticism from opposition CPI(M) leaders over the deaths, while Congress leaders have accused the Left of politicising the issue and attempting to cover up lapses during the previous LDF regime.

    Addressing a press conference here, Minister for SC-ST and Backward Class Welfare K A Thulasi said a coordination committee had been constituted under the previous LDF government to address the issue and regularly review the situation of pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and others. However, the committee had not met since 2023, and review meetings were not held every three months as envisaged, she said.

    She pointed out that Attappadi had 174 community kitchens during the tenure of former Congress Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, but the number had since fallen to 28.

    Saying she did not wish to politicise the deaths of children, Thulasi urged those making allegations to examine the year-wise figures before making claims.

    Congress leader and Palakkad MP V K Sreekandan alleged that some CPI(M) leaders in the district were trying to exploit the deaths for political purposes and target the UDF government.

    "This is not an issue to be viewed politically. It is a social issue. Following reports of two or three infant deaths in the last few days, attempts are being made to politicise the matter. It is an unfortunate campaign," he said.

    He alleged that the campaign was an attempt to conceal serious lapses during the previous LDF government.

    CPI(M) leader M B Rajesh had earlier launched a scathing attack on the UDF government over the issue, describing it as a "killer of infants".

    Targeting him, Sreekandan alleged that Rajesh had not visited Attappadi even once during his tenure as minister and Assembly Speaker.

    Former minister and CPI(M) leader A K Balan criticised the UDF government, alleging that it had done nothing to address tribal issues since coming to power and claiming that several tribal infants had died in recent months.

    Demanding that Chief Minister V D Satheesan visit Attappadi, Balan called for the restoration of community kitchens wherever necessary, the establishment of newborn care centres, the supply of nutritious food through anganwadis and the restoration of mobile medical units.

    He demanded adequate medicines and staff, along with the allocation of necessary funds, and urged Muraleedharan to ensure these measures.

    CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam also criticised the Congress-led state government over the reported infant deaths in Attappadi, alleging that it had failed to identify the root causes of the problem and provide a lasting solution.

    In a statement, Viswam said 10 infant deaths had been reported in Attappadi over the past four months and termed the government's failure to address the underlying causes a matter of concern.

    Protecting the health of tribal communities was not a government favour but a constitutional responsibility, he said, alleging that the authorities had failed to ensure adequate medical care, nutrition, antenatal care for pregnant women, timely hospital services and emergency ambulance facilities.

    He said appointing expert committees and issuing statements after the deaths was meaningless.

    Viswam demanded independent investigations into the circumstances of each death and a review of possible lapses by the Health and Scheduled Tribes Development departments.

    According to a statement, Muraleedharan will visit the Kottathara Tribal Speciality Hospital on Saturday and hold a review meeting with health department officials.

    He will then visit the Agali Community Health Centre and interact with healthcare workers to assess the region's health issues, treatment facilities and preventive measures.

    The minister said the Health Department was working to address the underlying problems in the region. On his instructions, the Directorate of Health Services and the Directorate of Medical Education have deputed expert teams to study the situation.

    The Health Department team, comprising State Tribal Health Nodal Officer Dr Harikumar, National Health Mission's Maternal and Child Health Nodal Officer Dr Joy John and Assistant Director Dr Lipsy Paul, reached Attappadi on Thursday for a three-day field study. The Directorate of Medical Education has deputed seven specialist doctors.

    The teams will visit tribal hamlets, hospitals, community health centres, family health centres and health sub-centres across Attappadi. All pregnant women and children below five years of age in the region will be examined, and necessary tests and treatment will be provided, officials said.

    They will conduct a detailed audit of all neonatal, infant and child deaths reported in Attappadi during 2026 and assess the functioning of the mobile medical teams, other healthcare workers and the nutritional rehabilitation centre.

    The expert teams have been directed to submit a comprehensive report with recommendations within a week of completing the assessment. Further action will be taken based on its findings, the minister said.

    The government aims to ensure better healthcare for mothers and children in Attappadi, identify the causes of the infant deaths and prevent their recurrence through immediate and long-term interventions, he added.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)