Rahul Gandhi flags tribal deaths in Balaghat, calls it total government failure; to raise issue in Lok Sabha

BALAGHAT: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Thursday accused the Centre and the Madhya Pradesh government of abandoning tribal communities, saying children here had died of illness and malnutrition while health, education and employment support remained shut.

Addressing the media in Balaghat, Mr Gandhi said the visit was prompted by the deaths of a large number of children. “The support the government ought to provide — whether in health, education or employment — is completely non-existent here. It seems as though they have been left in the middle of India, and neither the Government of India nor the Madhya Pradesh government exists here,” he said.

He listed unresolved claims over land, MGNREGA work, titles under the Forest Rights Act and pattas, and said no support was being given. Many children had died, he said, yet compensation had not reached all the families. “Half the people have still not received it.”

Mr Gandhi asked the government to discharge its responsibility and at least grant Forest Rights Act titles and pattas. On the rural jobs scheme, he said the name of MGNREGA had been changed, but the programme should at least be made operational, and hospitals and schools due to the people should be provided. “You talk of development 24 hours a day, while corruption runs round the clock. Yet when our tribal brothers and sisters need you, you disappear,” he said. On behalf of the Opposition and the Congress, he asked the government to do its job: open educational facilities and hospitals, and give people what was rightfully theirs.

He also objected to a cut in Ladli Behna Yojana payouts when a household received money under another scheme. If two schemes were being run, he said, beneficiaries should receive both. “That is their right.”

Mr Gandhi said he was deeply pained by what he saw, and had assured residents that a Congress government would help them. The party had brought the Forest Rights law and believed in their education, he said. “We do not call them Vanvasi; we call them Adivasi. The Adivasi was the first owner of Hindustan, and therefore must have a place in the country, and access to education, health and employment.”

Asked about earlier child deaths linked to cough syrup in Chhindwara and the Bhagirathpura episode in Indore, he said the picture was of complete government failure across Madhya Pradesh. “Wherever you go, you see it. It is a total, 100 per cent government failure.”

On whether the matter would be taken to Parliament, Mr Gandhi said he would raise it in the Lok Sabha — not only the Balaghat deaths, but what was being done to Adivasis across the country.