Nagpur: Even after tall claims by the Maharashtra government regarding taking steps to end the problem of malnutrition in Amravati ’s Melghat town, infamous for children’s deaths due to starvation, nearly 6,000 kids and women died in the last six years, reveals an RTI query by Abhay Kolarkar.The RTI activist had sought details regarding the number of deaths, including that of foetus (in womb), still births, children and mothers in the area, from April 1, 2006 till this year. Among them, deaths inside the womb came to 2,958, followed by infants at 1,528, child deaths at 1,365 and mothers at 134. In the same period, about 65,603 births took place in the region comprising Dharni and Chikhaldara. Both have about 324 villages, having a combined population of over 3.03 lakh, according to the information provided by Amravati health officer.Even a survey conducted by NGO Khoj , working in the Melghat region since a long time, presented similar figures of children and mothers’ deaths due to malnutrition. The NGO cited various reasons for continuing deaths, comprising dearth of child specialists and gynecologists, absence of primary health centres (PHCs), rural dispensary in remote areas, and also lack of awareness among the tribals. Extreme cold weather and deficiency of nutrition in daily diet of mothers added to their woes.The RTI reply showed about 12 medical officers’ seats in Group A and 28 in Group B, sanctioned for the region. The government has filled up all posts in first group, but five seats are vacant in the second. Already, the number of medical practitioners sanctioned for the region are highly insufficient in comparison with total population of over three lakh.Maharashtra health minister Dr Deepak Sawant couldn’t be contacted, despite repeated efforts, for his comments on the alarming deaths in the region.The NGO further pointed out that due to absence of sonography machines in the area, the health of foetus in the womb can’t be correctly gauged, leading to administration of wrong medicines. When the first PIL was filed in the Bombay High Court in 1990, about 1,500 deaths were reported. In 1996, it came down to 1,150. Since the last two years, death figures swelled to 400-450.Khoj members had claimed that deaths figures were much higher in reality and the government was trying to mislead the public, apprehending backlash from the opposition. Their claims are turning out to be true as in four months from April to July, over 170 deaths, including eight mothers, took place as per the RTI reply. They blamed the ruling BJP-Sena government of filing PIL on various issues plaguing Melghat when they were in opposition and then withdrawing it after assuming power.Deaths due to malnutrition in Melghat from 2007 to July this year:Year………......Fetus ……..Children ………….Infants …. Mothers……...Births2013-2014……..242……………….96…………… 134………..14…………….…66152014-2015…….231……………….113……………123……… 7……………..….55582015-2016…….207……………….76……………..141………..8…………….….59492016 ------… … 85………………….34…………… ... 43………..8………......1658Total……....…2,958………….. 1,365…………..1,528…………..134……….65,603(All years from April 1 to March 31. year 2016 from Apri l to July 16)Vacancy of medical officers in the region:Designation………Sanctioned………Appointed ……VacantGroup A…………. 12……………….….12……………………00Group B…………..28…………………..23…………………05Total……………..40…………....……..35…………………5