The Maharashtra government cannot merely acknowledge these fatalities without providing a comprehensive elucidation and demonstrating a robust strategic plan to mitigate such tragedies in the future, stated NCP (SP) spokesperson Mahesh Tapase
The NCP (SP) asked what measures were being taken by the Maharashtra government to prevent further deaths. Representational Pic
The NCP (SP) on Tuesday articulated concern regarding the demise of 12,000 children in Maharashtra between April 2024 and February 2025. The party inquired about the measures being undertaken by the state government to prevent further loss of innocent young lives.
The Maharashtra government cannot merely acknowledge these fatalities without providing a comprehensive elucidation and demonstrating a robust strategic plan to mitigate such tragedies in the future, stated NCP (SP) spokesperson Mahesh Tapase.
"We respectfully urge the government to promptly disclose the age-wise breakdown of these deaths as well as their underlying causes, to facilitate proper analysis and enable targeted interventions to protect the future of our children," he added, as reported by the news agency PTI.
Maharashtra Public Health and Family Welfare Minister Prakash Abitkar on Monday said the state has recorded over 12,000 child deaths between April last year and February 2025, averaging more than 37 fatalities per day.
The figure came up during the question hour when ten MLCs from the opposition and treasury benches asked a question as to whether 12,438 children died in the state in 11 months.
They also highlighted the situation in Kolhapur district where 1,736 deaths of children, including 11 newborns, were reported.
In a written response, Abitkar confirmed the numbers, acknowledging the traumatic loss of young lives throughout the state.
However, the minister neither provided any age-wise break-up nor specified the causes behind the death of the children.
"The recent admission by Public Health and Family Welfare Minister Prakash Abitkar regarding the death of more than 12,000 children in Maharashtra between April last year and February 2025 is deeply disturbing and a grave indictment of the current government's priorities," NCP (SP) spokesperson Mahesh Tapase said in a statement, reported PTI.
Minister Abitkar confirmed in a written reply to the Maharashtra legislative council that 12,438 children have died in the state during this period, he noted.
"Alarmingly, Kolhapur district alone reported 1,736 child deaths, including 11 newborns, during the same timeframe," Tapase said.
"Despite these horrifying numbers, the minister's reply failed to provide any age break-up or specific causes of these deaths. This blatant disregard for accountability is unacceptable," he asserted.
The NCP (SP) asked what measures were being taken by the Maharashtra government to prevent further deaths.
"Why has the government failed to disclose the age-wise break-up and the precise reasons behind each of these 12,438 child fatalities?" Tapase asked, reported PTI.
"The lives of our children are paramount. The Maharashtra government cannot simply acknowledge these deaths without providing a comprehensive explanation and demonstrating a robust plan of action to prevent such tragedies from recurring," he said.
The NCP (SP) will continue to press for transparency, accountability and effective measures to ensure the health and safety of every child in Maharashtra, Tapase added.
(With PTI inputs)
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