Thampu, a tribal collective, has urged the Kerala government to reassess its strategy in tackling the persistent issue of infant deaths in Attappady. During a meeting with Health Minister K. Muraleedharan on Saturday, the group emphasized the need to address not only health-care measures but also the social, cultural, and economic factors contributing to the crisis.
Between 2012 and 2026, Attappady reported 124 infant deaths despite the government spending nearly ₹500 crore on health interventions. Thampu's convener, K. A. Ramu, led the delegation that met with the minister, advocating for a comprehensive scientific study to identify the root causes. The group called for a two-phase action plan to tackle these issues and demanded answers regarding recurring health problems such as heart conditions, breastfeeding complications, and low birth weights, with some infants weighing only 700 to 1,400 grams at birth.
The collective highlighted the erosion of tribal communities' traditional ties to their land as a significant factor affecting their social and cultural practices. They urged the government to resolve land issues and enforce rights under the Forest Rights Act. Additionally, Thampu pointed out that many tribal families remain unaware of government welfare schemes, despite 24 departments implementing various programs. The group advocated for awareness campaigns in tribal languages to bridge this gap.
Transportation costs also pose a challenge for these communities, with families spending around ₹400 on auto fares to collect free rations. Thampu suggested the introduction of mobile ration shops to serve remote settlements, along with improved service delivery by the Scheduled Tribes Development department.
Concerns about the capacity of Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres were also raised, with reports of children being turned away due to a shortage of beds. Thampu called for increased funding to address this issue. Other demands included strengthening Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), preventing the loss of welfare benefits due to the facial recognition system (FRS), recruiting staff from local tribal settlements, and enhancing anaemia monitoring.
The collective also emphasized the importance of maternal and child health and nutrition awareness programs in tribal languages. They sought representation for tribal organizations in hospital management and monitoring committees to ensure their needs are adequately addressed.
Finally, Thampu demanded transparency regarding the nearly ₹500 crore expenditure aimed at reducing infant deaths in Attappady. The delegation, which included Manju Pattimalam and Selvaraj, stressed the importance of releasing detailed statistics and expenditure reports to evaluate the effectiveness of the initiatives undertaken so far.
