KOZHIKODE: Two children of the vanishing Cholanaickan tribe were found to be severely malnourished and unattended inside the forest of Poochappara colony in Karulayi panchayat in Malappuram.
The district medical team, which found the kids in a hapless condition, says that unless immediate medication is provided, the kids will not survive the monsoon.
The incident came to light after the team visited the tribe to provide vaccination against Kyasanur forest disease (KFD) earlier this month.
A health worker in the medical team told DC that the four-year-old, younger child was suffering from both the Kwashiorkor and Marasmus diseases and his five-and-a-half-year-old brother was afflicted by Kwashiorkor.
“They look like children with stunted growth. Both are far off their original age in appearance,” said the official, who requested anonymity.
Another member of the medical team alleged that though they informed the higher-ups and officials of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and Integrated Tribe Development Programme (ITDP) on the plight of the kids, no measures had been taken. “Instead, one of the health workers has been transferred as a punishment for leaking such news,” said him.
Parents Veeran and Jekki and the children are residing in a rock cave, 20 km inside the forest at Poochappara in the Mancheri hills.
Though the government has been providing rice, sugar and kerosene to the Cholanaickan tribe on every Wednesday at the Manjeri base camp, it has been alleged that the rice being given is white rice which has fewer nutrients.
District Medical Officer, Dr V. Umarul Farook said he was not aware of such a situation and will inquire into it. The most primitive tribe, there are only 350-odd Cholanaickan members in Kerala.
