AMRAVATI: Citizen participation is necessary to strengthen the healthcare system and prevent maternal and child deaths in the tribal-dominated Melghat region in Amravati district, secretary of the public health department Nipun Vinayak said on Saturday. Citizen participation Vs lack of intent: Meeting on tackling malnutrition exposes fault lines “Along with the creation of necessary facilities to prevent maternal and child mortality, the health system needs to be strengthened at the village level, with active participation of citizens,” a press release issued by the district collectorate said, quoting Vinayak’s address during a review meeting comprising officials from six teams which toured different regions of Melghat on Friday. The teams visited the region to assess health infrastructure and address malnutrition, pursuant to orders issued by the Bombay high court (HC) on November 24. But petitioners of a clutch of Public Interest Litigations (PILs), whose interventions in court led to the directive and who were present during Saturday’s meeting, said the emphasis on citizen participation belied crippling problems regarding lack of inter-departmental coordination and government neglect. Focus on …