Chhattisgarh on Thursday denied media reports that a Pando tribal woman died due to malnutrition in Balrampur-Ramanujganj district.
The government said primitive tribes -- to which the woman belonged -- are being covered under all welfare schemes including ration and health.
Citing the report of an investigation done by a team led by Dr Kailash Kaivartya, Block Medical Officer, Ramanujganj, an official statement said Devanti Pando was admitted for delivery on August, 19 at the sub-health center in Barwahi.
On August 20, she became a mother. She was referred to the Community Health Centre at Ramanujganj after her condition turned critical.
But the woman's relatives, instead of taking her to a hospital, took her home in Barwahi village. She died on September 9.
The report said the woman, during her pregnancy, was advised to take iron and calcium tablets but she did not do so.
The Health Department is conducting special monitoring of the newborn.
The death of 20 members of a particularly vulnerable tribal group in Ramchandrapur is also being investigated.
The population of Pando community is concentrated in 30 villages of Balrampur-Ramanujganj and Surajpur districts in northern Chhattisgarh. They are categorized as a vulnerable tribal group due to their limited numbers.
