Nagpur: The state govt has reconstituted its high-level core committee tasked with addressing child mortality in tribal areas, including Melghat in Amravati district, to strengthen coordination and improve implementation of welfare measures. Among the key changes is inclusion of the additional chief secretary (finance) as a committee member. Nagpur has been retained among the 16 districts covered under the framework.As per the public health department GR issued on June 11, the restructured committee will be headed by the chief secretary. The GR supersedes multiple earlier resolutions issued between 2013 and 2015. The committee will review implementation of welfare schemes in tribal districts, improve inter-departmental coordination, address difficulties faced by tribal communities and meet once every three months to monitor progress.The GR comes amid continuing judicial attention on tribal child mortality and related public health concerns. The original committee was formed following directions of the Supreme Court in connection with child deaths reported in Melghat and to monitor implementation of welfare schemes in tribal districts.As per the GR, discussions in previous committee meetings often involved issues requiring financial approvals and fund allocation, prompting the need for representation from the Finance Department.Nagpur will be represented by the district collector, zilla parishad chief executive officer and superintendent of police. Notably, a Nagpur-based NGO representative also remains a member of the panel. Other districts covered include Amravati, Gondia, Gadchiroli, Chandrapur, Nandurbar, Nashik, Palghar and Thane among others. Apart from senior officials from departments including tribal development, women and child development, health, rural development, water supply, home, public works and medical education, the committee also includes representatives from select voluntary organisations working in tribal regions.
