Baiga tribal community faces crisis in Madhya Pradesh

Political tension is rising in Madhya Pradesh following reports of significant child mortality and population decline within the Baiga, a particularly vulnerable tribal community in the Balaghat district. Opposition leaders from the Congress Party have criticized the state government over the deaths of dozens of Baiga children due to malnutrition.

Former MLA Paras Saklecha highlighted a sharp decline in the Baiga population, noting that the number of families dropped from 82,258 in 2019 to 72,788 in 2025. He questioned the effectiveness of government spending, pointing out that despite substantial budget provisions for tribal development, malnutrition persists. Saklecha also raised concerns regarding the Ladli Behna Yojana, alleging that approximately 500,000 tribal women were disqualified from the scheme because they receive nutritional grants, which he argues are community subsidies rather than personal income.

Leader of the Opposition Umang Singhar has demanded accountability, stating that at least 32 children have died and many more remain ill. He called on the Chief Minister to investigate the causes of these deaths and address the inadequate health infrastructure in tribal areas, where infections like measles and malaria are also contributing to the crisis.