The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights -NCPCR has asked the Uttar Pradesh Government to file an Action Taken Report on the alleged death of 500 children in Eastern parts of the State due to encephalitis. According to an official release, the commission has written to the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh after taking suo moto cognizance on media reports alleging that deaths have occurred due to encephalitis in last two months. The Commission says the matter amounts to violation of ‘children’s right to life, survival and development’, which need to be protected under the related Act. NCPCR has also sought factual data on the total number of cases of encephalitis reported so far, number of deaths of children in each year and steps being taken to address the issue.