The Supreme Court on Friday called the deaths of tribal children from malnutrition “very serious”. It issued notices to the Centre and three states.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant heard a public interest plea. The plea concerns tribal regions in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra.

Advocate Varun Thakur said children were dying daily in affected blocks. He said measles and severe acute malnutrition were killing children from vulnerable tribal groups.

The plea says health centres are 15 to 40 km away from villages. Families depend on unqualified practitioners. Take-home rations from Anganwadis have stopped, it says.

The court was urged to look into the diversion of District Mineral Foundation funds. These funds are meant for mining-affected tribal areas.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court is already hearing a similar case on child deaths in Balaghat. The Supreme Court will hear the matter again after responses are filedHealth experts say early nutrition can prevent most of these deaths. They want better monitoring in remote areas.