Bhubaneswar: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought a report from Odisha government on measures taken by it to prevent malnutrition among residents of Nagada in Jajpur district.

Based on a petition filed by rights activist Akhand of Puri, the NHRC on Thursday asked Odisha Chief Secretary to submit the report within four weeks. The rights panel also directed the Chief Secretary to depose before it, if he fails to submit the report within the stipulated time.

The petitioner alleged that both the State government and Centre have failed to make any difference on the ground at Nagada as children of the village still fail to get nutritional food.

In June and July 2016, local media first highlighted the misery and malnutrition cases in Nagada village where as many as 20 children died due to lack of nutritional food.