Rahul Gandhi Questions Government Response to Tribal Child Deaths in Madhya Pradesh’s Balaghat

Gandhi made the remarks during a visit to Jagla village in the Birsa area, alleging that families in the affected areas continue to face inadequate access to healthcare, education, employment and other government support.

Rahul Gandhi met families who had lost children amid reported cases of illness, malnutrition and other health complications. He also raised concerns about compensation and the implementation of welfare and forest-rights provisions.

The number of deaths remains disputed. Government figures cited in recent reports have put the toll at 32, while Congress leaders have claimed that more than 40 children have died in the affected tribal areas. A report published on Thursday said the administrative figure had reached 34 following another child’s death.

Gandhi alleged that families affected by the deaths had not received the full financial assistance they were entitled to. He also questioned the availability of healthcare facilities and schools in the remote tribal villages.

During his interaction with reporters, Gandhi criticised the functioning of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in the area and questioned the government's decision to change the programme's name, arguing that the focus should remain on providing employment.

He also raised the issue of land rights, alleging that tribal families were being denied titles under the Forest Rights Act.

Another issue raised by Gandhi concerned the Ladli Behna scheme. He alleged that some tribal women were not receiving the full benefits of the scheme when they were also beneficiaries of another government programme. Gandhi argued that eligible beneficiaries should receive the entitlements available under both schemes.

The Congress leader also accused the government of corruption and questioned what he described as a gap between claims of development and conditions in the affected villages.

Gandhi reiterated the Congress's preference for the term "Adivasi" when referring to India's tribal communities, contrasting it with the term "Vanvasi", which he associated with the BJP and RSS. He said the Congress would support tribal communities on issues involving education, healthcare, employment and land rights if it returned to power.

His visit comes amid growing political attention around the deaths in Balaghat's tribal belt. More than 30 children have been reported dead in the region since May amid concerns involving infectious diseases, malnutrition and access to healthcare.

Before reaching Jagla, Gandhi stopped at Mate Government Primary School, where he spent around 15 minutes interacting with students and asked about the mid-day meal being provided at the school.

The Balaghat deaths have also drawn wider scrutiny, including legal and political attention, with reports noting concerns over healthcare access and the conditions in remote tribal settlements.