Around 36 per cent of the over 100 tribal children examined at a health camp in Jawhar area of Maharashtra's Palghar district have been found to be severely malnourished, an official said on 17th September.

According to Vivek Pandit, the former MLA who heads a state committee on tribal welfare, said total 124 children were examined at the health camp conducted on 16th September in the tribal-dominated Jawhar taluka. "Of these 124 children, 45 were diagnosed with severe malnourishment," he told reporters. These children are undergoing treatment at a rehabilitation centre set up in the area, he said, adding that pregnant women and lactating mothers from Jawhar and Mokhada talukas will also be provided assistance at the facility.

Pandit also said that around 26 tribal women from the area have been enrolled for a free nursing course at the rehabilitation centre. This will help them in getting jobs at hospitals and other health care facilities, he added.