Archive · 24 Aug 2026
Congress Seeks Probe Into Tribal Children’s Deaths in Two States
Vikrant Bhuria asked Congress to investigate deaths involving tribal children in two Indian states.
He said 22 Baiga children in Madhya Pradesh died from malnutrition or related illnesses.
He blamed a lack of food support and limited access to health care.
He also said some families received ₹20,000 after the deaths.
In Maharashtra, he said girls at a tribal hostel were bitten by a snake.
Six girls were hospitalised, and three reportedly died.
He said many girls had to sleep on the floor because the hostel lacked space.
He wants safer hostels, better services, and action against officials if they are found responsible.
Adivasi Congress chairman Vikrant Bhuria demanded a special committee to investigate alleged deaths of tribal children in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
Bhuria claimed 22 Baiga children died from malnutrition and related illnesses in Madhya Pradesh’s Balaghat district.
He alleged nutritious meals for tribal households had been stopped for six months and that the nearest primary health centre was about 20 km away.
Bhuria said three of six girls hospitalised after a snakebite at a Gadchiroli tribal hostel died.
He called for action against responsible officials, a safety audit of tribal hostels, and improved facilities.
- Who
- Adivasi Congress chairman Vikrant Bhuria raised the allegations involving tribal children, girls at a Maharashtra hostel, and government officials.
- What
- He demanded a special committee to investigate alleged malnutrition-related deaths and deaths following a snakebite, along with a safety audit of tribal hostels.
- When
- Bhuria made the demands on Monday; he also referred to conditions and spending between 2020 and 2025.
- Where
- The alleged malnutrition deaths occurred in Balaghat district, Madhya Pradesh, while the snakebite incident occurred at a tribal hostel in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra.
- Why
- Bhuria cited alleged malnutrition, discontinued nutritional support, limited health access, and inadequate hostel safety and infrastructure.
Congress and Adivasi Congress allegations
Government position cited in the account
Malnutrition response
Congress and Adivasi Congress allegations
Vikrant Bhuria alleged that nutritious meals for tribal households had been stopped, vaccination coverage was below 80 percent, and no separate tribal-area budget provision existed.
Government position cited in the account
Bhuria cited a government statement that malnourished children were receiving nutritional meals costing ₹12 per day.
Hostel safety
Congress and Adivasi Congress allegations
Bhuria blamed inadequate facilities for overcrowding at the Gadchiroli hostel and demanded a comprehensive safety audit and urgent improvements.
Government position cited in the account
The account does not provide a detailed state-government response to the hostel allegations.
Accountability
Congress and Adivasi Congress allegations
Bhuria called for a special committee, action against officials found responsible, and details of funds allocated and spent on malnutrition programmes from 2020 to 2025.
Government position cited in the account
The account does not report whether the governments agreed to these demands or announced an investigation.
- Reported malnutrition deaths
- Bhuria claimed 22 Baiga children died in Balaghat district, Madhya Pradesh.
- Reported hostel deaths
- Bhuria said three girls died after six girls were hospitalised following a snakebite in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra.
- Nutritional support
- He alleged nutritious meals for tribal households had been discontinued for six months.
- Health access
- Bhuria said the nearest primary health centre was about 20 km away.
- Hostel conditions
- He alleged more than 70 girls slept on the floor of a single room because of inadequate facilities.
- Compensation
- Families of the children who died were reportedly given ₹20,000 each.
- Government meal figure
- Bhuria said the government reported that nutritional meals for malnourished children cost ₹12 per day.