203 Child Deaths, Mumbai’s Neighbourhood Bleeds
• Mumbai’s Tribal Belt Battles Deadly Neglect
• Maternal, Child Deaths Surge Near Mumbai
Unmesh Gujarathi
Sprouts News Exclusive
Contact: +91 9322755098
Sprouts News Exclusive
Contact: +91 9322755098
In Shahapur, a tribal-dominated taluka near Mumbai, 203 child deaths and 36 maternal deaths were recorded over five years, exposing a collapsing healthcare system. Despite multiple government schemes, malnutrition, poor implementation, and administrative negligence persist. Sprouts News Investigation Team (SIT) demands urgent intervention to prevent further loss of innocent lives.
Contents
203 Child Deaths, Mumbai’s Neighbourhood Bleeds• Mumbai’s Tribal Belt Battles Deadly Neglect• Maternal, Child Deaths Surge Near MumbaiHealth Emergency in Shahapur: Malnutrition and Mortality Haunt Tribal RegionMaternal and Child Health Schemes Fail to DeliverStartling Statistics Expose Systemic BreakdownPaper Schemes, Real Lives Lost: Governance Under FireAlso Read: Malnutrition Nightmare Near Mumbai: 163 Children at Risk.A Call for Urgent Action: Shahapur Cannot Wait
Health Emergency in Shahapur: Malnutrition and Mortality Haunt Tribal Region
Despite being just a few hours from Mumbai, Shahapur taluka in Thane district remains stuck in a dire health crisis. The region has recorded 203 child deaths and 36 maternal deaths over the past five years, exposing a critical collapse of the local healthcare system. Shahapur, a tribal-majority area, continues to struggle for basic needs like healthcare, education, and clean water.
The Sprouts News Investigation Team (SIT) uncovered that malnutrition, coupled with administrative apathy and underperforming health infrastructure, has led to a worsening public health scenario. Shockingly, despite numerous state and central schemes for maternal and child welfare, the death toll continues to rise, indicating that these programs exist largely on paper.
Maternal and Child Health Schemes Fail to Deliver
Shahapur falls under several government health programs such as the Janani Suraksha Yojana, Amrut Aahar Yojana, Poushtik Aahar Yojana, and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, which are designed to reduce maternal and infant mortality. Moreover, regular immunization drives and health check-up camps under the National Child Health Program (RBSK) are supposed to cover all children and pregnant women.
However, the Sprouts SIT found that poor implementation, lack of monitoring, and rampant corruption have turned these schemes into a mere bureaucratic exercise. Despite monthly health camps being mandated at every primary health centre (PHC), key interventions often don’t reach intended beneficiaries, especially in remote tribal hamlets.
Startling Statistics Expose Systemic Breakdown
Between 2021 and 2025, Shahapur’s nine PHCs collectively recorded:
•154 infant deaths (0–1 year)
•49 child deaths (1–6 years)
•36 maternal deaths
Most of these cases were linked to malnutrition, low birth weight, pregnancy-related complications, and lack of timely medical care. Maternal deaths were often due to severe anaemia, premature deliveries, cardiovascular issues, and lack of prenatal support. In many cases, pregnant women continued daily wage labor even during high-risk pregnancies due to poverty and lack of alternatives.
Paper Schemes, Real Lives Lost: Governance Under Fire
Health and Women & Child Welfare Departments have repeatedly failed to ensure proper outreach and implementation. Several initiatives, while officially active, lack field-level execution. In tribal areas of Shahapur, Sprouts News Investigation Team (SIT) found that health data is either outdated or inaccurate, and village health workers are overwhelmed or absent.
The burden of traveling long distances for basic treatment, unavailability of skilled doctors in rural health centers, and erratic ambulance services contribute significantly to the crisis. Additionally, many tribal women deliver at home without medical supervision, increasing the risk of complications.
The absence of transparency and accountability has triggered outrage among civil society groups. Experts argue that the government must go beyond paper audits and deploy targeted interventions backed by real-time data and cross-departmental coordination.
Also Read: Malnutrition Nightmare Near Mumbai: 163 Children at Risk.
A Call for Urgent Action: Shahapur Cannot Wait
Shahapur’s staggering maternal and child mortality rate underscores an urgent need for a complete health system overhaul. Regular medical audits, mandatory on-ground verification of scheme implementation, mobile health units in tribal areas, and guaranteed nutrition kits for pregnant women and young children are non-negotiable.
The Sprouts News Investigation Team (SIT) urges the Maharashtra government and public health authorities to treat Shahapur’s situation as a public health emergency. Policy interventions without ground execution will only deepen the crisis. The lives of Shahapur’s mothers and children depend on swift, transparent, and accountable action.
Summary Points:
•203 child deaths and 36 maternal deaths recorded in Shahapur (2021–2025)
•Malnutrition, anaemia, and lack of institutional care are key causes
•Government schemes remain largely on paper due to poor execution
•Tribal women and children continue to be the worst affected
