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Slow death

  • 14/05/2002

It's a burden everyone will hate to carry. Shega Phadke, a resident of Maharashtra's Nandurbar district, had to walk a few kilometres carrying his dead son's body, a victim of malnutrition, before burying it on the way. It could well be the story for the parents of some 300 children who died of malnutrition last year in the district. Malnutrition is chronic in Nandurbar, especially in the rural areas. Aseem Gupta, collector of Nandurbar, who puts the figure at 22, says the reason is simple: the district suffered its worst drought.

Around 90 million people in rural areas lack access to safe drinking water. With rapid depletion of food pool like the forest and land, women and children, in particular, of districts like Nandurbar across the country have become prone to malnutrition

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