Keralam govt to file case against parents after 2-year-old dies of malnutrition

A two-year-old boy allegedly died of malnutrition at his home in Keralam's Alappuzha, prompting action against his parents. The death has intensified scrutiny of child protection measures for vulnerable families.Keralam Women and Child Welfare Minister Bindu Krishna (Photo: ANI)Alappuzha,Oct 20, 2026 20:42 ISTKeralam Women and Child Welfare Minister Bindu Krishna on Tuesday said a case would be registered against the parents of a two-year-old boy who allegedly died of malnutrition. The child was found dead at his home in Alappuzha district. Doctors said he was “acutely anaemic” and appeared malnourished, according to the police.A police officer told news agency PTI that the boy weighed 7.6 kg, compared with the normal weight of around 12 kg for a child of his age.After visiting the child’s home, Krishna told reporters that the government was committed to protecting children and would take steps to prevent similar incidents.The minister said the authorities had earlier identified the vulnerable living conditions of the children in the family and tried to move them to Gandhi Bhavan, a care home. However, the parents threatened to die by suicide, forcing officials to send the children back home. She said the parents later failed to cooperate when Child Welfare Committee officials and anganwadi workers visited the house to check on the children. “All existing schemes, including Mission Vatsalya, will be used to ensure child protection,” Krishna said.A special meeting of Child Welfare Committee members will be held on October 27 to review and expand the list of children living in vulnerable circumstances, the minister told PTI. She added that the child’s mother would be given counselling. “It is painful that there was no food in the child’s stomach at the time of death,” Krishna said, adding that constant vigilance would be maintained to prevent such incidents from recurring.People’s representatives and officials accompanied the minister during her visit. The government will pursue a case against the parents and review measures to protect children living in vulnerable conditions.- EndsWith PTI inputs