290 Infants Die In Koppal, Raichur Alarmed at 60% infant malnutrition deaths reported in some taluks of Koppal and Raichur districts against the national average of 42%, the Karnataka government constituted an expert committee to look into it. The committee, led by Dr BS Nanda Kumar, head, department of community medicine, MS Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore, will soon visit these districts. “I was informed about it when I was attending a conference in Jodhpur. I’ll meet health minister UT Khader on Tuesday to know the committee’s brief,’’ he said. According to latest health department reports, about 168 cases of malnutrition deaths were reported in Koppal district alone over the past three months. Raichur registered 122 deaths. There have been an average of six maternal deaths per month in these districts. Statistics provided by the Karnataka women & child development department, quoted in a report on malnutrition by the National Commission on Protection of Child in 2012, corroborate this observation. The State Human Rights Commission had expressed concern over the increase in cases of malnutrition in the country. Hyderabad-Karnataka region, which got the deemed status under Article 371(J) of the Constitution (special grants will be released by the Centre and regional reservation in education and employment), suffers from severe poverty, under-education, child marriage and consanguineous marriages — all contributing to malnutrition. The cheap rice, free milk and egg scheme launched to tackle hunger and malnutrition among poor children in the most backward districts of Hyderabad-Karnataka region hasn’t solved the problem. The six districts — Gulbarga, Yadgir, Raichur, Bidar, Koppal and Bellary — continue to record high rates of deaths of children less than five years, according to health officials. Most are suspected to have died from severe malnutrition. Last year, the state government started providing eggs and milk in anganwadi centres in Koppal and Raichur after many malnutrition deaths were reported there. A comprehensive action plan was also prepared to address the issues by involving anganwadi and Asha workers of rural health centres. NK Patil Committee report: The Karnataka high court-appointed committee had recommended the government take up priority medical treatment of children suffering from malnutrition. The nine-member panel headed by Justice NK Patil was constituted by the court after BL Patil of NGO Vimochana Sangha wrote to the former Chief Justice Vikramjit Sen to look into the issue. Justice Sen converted it into a public interest litigation and asked it to look into various aspects. In his report, Justice Patil favoured providing food to children in anganwadis as per diet of the region. It also recommended establishing special hospitals in each district headquarters for malnourished children and their mothers.