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Starvation deaths failure of system: Sisodia

Expressing his concern over the death of three minor sisters in Mandawali allegedly due to starvation, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister…

Starvation deaths failure of system: Sisodia

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia meets the bereaved mother of three minor girls, who died of starvation at Mandawali, in the Capital on Thursday. (Photo: SNS)

Expressing his concern over the death of three minor sisters in Mandawali allegedly due to starvation, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Wednesday said the incident was the “biggest failure of our system”.

Speaking to reporters after meeting the mother of deceased girls at the SDM office in east Delhi, Sisodia said he told the Directorate of Integrated Child Development Services (DICDS) to submit details whether those girls were figured on records and if they did, why they were not helped.

Taking cognisance of the matter, the Deputy CM said that he directed the Planning Department to conduct a complete census of children in the city.

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“I have asked the Planning Department to have all the data of education, health and other details of people living in each and every lane of the city,” Sisodia said.

READ | Abject poverty snatched food from minor girls

Sisodia said ICDS was established with an aim to help children who were facing hunger and starvation, and in Delhi Anganwadis were also formed for the same purpose, “but our system has somewhere failed”.

“If deaths happen due to poverty, starvation or any disease, it is the failure of our system,” Sisodia remarked. In a shocking incident three sisters were found dead in east Delhi’s Mandawali area with postmortem report stating that they were a case of starvation.

Delhi government has ordered a magisterial probe into the matter. Sisodia, who also holds Education portfolio, said as per the initial inquiry, he was told that girls ate food on Monday and also had mid-day meal in school.

Sisodia promised a financial help of Rs 25,000 to the family and assured more financial help once the girl’s father (who is currently missing) returned home.

“We are admitting the mother of the three girls in hospital and will do everything to provide her the best treatment. I will also try to arrange for finance through Chief Minister’s funds after their father arrives,” he said.

Sisodia also took an opportunity to emphasise the implementation of doorstep deliver of ration, claiming it was an easy way to stop ration theft in the national capital.

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