In a horrific incident, a tribal child in Madhya Pradesh consumed insecticide out of hunger. The incident happened in Ratlam district in the state, according to reports, and the child is in critical condition.

The incident happened on 31st December, when a 7 year boy consumed insecticide, as he was frustrated due to denied wheat by a ration shop. According to the family of the child, he was going to the Amba Para society to get wheat for last 15 days carrying the ration card of the family, but the ration shop was refusing to him wheat, saying they have no stock. Disturbed with this continuous refusal, the child consumed insecticide. He was immediately rushed to a hospital, and his situation is stable at present.

DC of Ratlam district Ruchika Chauhan has ordered an enquiry into the incident, and has formed a team including the tehsildar and food inspector to investigate the matter. On the other hand, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has also taken the matter seriously and it has set up an inquiry into the same.

After the Congress formed government in three states after the recent elections, they had announced waiver of farm loans. But that has not ended the distress of farmers, with several incidents of farmers committing suicide due to the burden of loan emerging in the last couple of weeks from these states. Now, this incident indicates that the widespread corruption that was prevalent earlier in the public distribution system may have made a come back along with Congress government.