When the Maharashtra government first recorded the figures of child deaths due to endemic malnutrition in the remote villages of Melghat, shocking numbers were revealed.

Almost two decades later, even though the government figures show a substantial drop in the number of malnutrition deaths, social activists and health-coordinators working in the impoverished area say that the authorities pass off such deaths as still-births.

The reality continues to bite with the data recorded just before monsoon this year, indicating 509 malnutrition induced deaths during past year, until March 2011. Every year, hundreds of children of Korku tribe in the tehsils of Melghat in the Satpura ranges fall prey to starvation and malnutrition. While the government records indicate figures ranging from 400-525 in the last five years, health activists working among the tribals tell a different story.

Madhukar Mane, Health Coordinator with NGO Maitri, which organises monsoon campaigns to prevent deaths in the precarious season, says: "The figures are certainly better than the late 90s but the numbers are still very high in the tehsils of Dharni and Chikhaldhara. Government records child deaths under two categories: still birth and neonatal. What happens is that they write off several deaths as still births so that the infant mortality rate (IMR) could be kept under check.

Maximum child deaths occur during monsoons as the tribals are not able to work and feed their children. Ironically, most government schemes are launched after the monsoons.

About 50 per cent families in Melghat are below poverty line with a high rate of unemployment. Weak mothers often deliver children in grade 1 malnutrition.

It almost instantly deteriorates to grade 2, and then 3 & 4. The nearest emergency health care is about 120 km away that too without a child specialist or medical equipment. About 39 children are suffering from grade 4 malnutrition while 442 fall under grade 3 here.

Jayashree Shidore, coordinating activist with Maitri, says: "Children with a sunken face and a bloated stomach is a common sight in Melghat." Maitri is helping such kids by imparting basic health education, especially to nursing mothers, and lessons in personal hygiene.

Malnutrition mars Gujarat's growth story: HDI Report: Despite a shining Gujarat story of high economic growth model applauded by a US Congressional report, the India Human Development Report 2011 points out that the state fares the worst in terms of overall hunger and malnutrition in the country. Taking a dig at the Gujarat model, Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh, while releasing the report, said, "On nutrition, I am puzzled why the high rate of malnutrition continues to persist even in pockets high economic growth.