SC panel asks govt to feed the hungry to prevent hunger deaths

Times of India, Jan 24, 2010
BHUBANESWAR: With 15 of Orissa's 30 districts hit by drought amid allegations of more than 400 starvation deaths in nine years, a Supreme Court panel has asked the administration to rescue hungry people immediately to prevent possible deaths.

The SC appointed Commissioner and Special Commissioner have recommended a "protocol" for preventing hunger deaths in the state.

"Protocol for preventing starvation would ensure that the state response is appropriate to mitigate some of the distress faced by poor and vulnerable groups," SC Commissioner N C Saxena and Special Commissioner Harsh Mander told state chief secretary T K Mishra in a letter.

The SC Commission's letter, which reached the office of the chief secretary here recently, also sought an action taken report within a month.

"We are in touch with the Commission in this regard", Mishra said adding that the state administration was taking all steps to avoid hunger deaths.

"It is imperative in the present context of widespread drought in many districts of the country that the state governments should follow a protocol to prevent starvation among poor and vulnerable households", the
commission told the state government.

The state government has already declared 3264 villages under 70 blocks and 41 wards under nine urban local bodies spread over 15 districts as drought affected.

"The areas having sustained crop loss of 50 per cent and above during 2009 kharif season are declared drought hit", revenue and disaster management minister S N Patro said.

The drought-hit districts include tribal dominated Kalahandi, Koraput, Kandhamal, Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, Nawrangpur, Nuapada, Sundergarh and Deogarh.

The infamous starvation deaths and child sale in Kalahandi in 1980s had drawn national attention with many dying of hunger though the then government had denied the allegations.

Stating that the district administration was found to be spending most of its energies in trying to establish that deaths were not due to starvation but due to health reasons, the commission asked the state government to ensure that the focus should now be shifted to all the communities that were living in hunger rather than waiting to respond to the crisis after deaths are reported.

Allegations of 404 starvation deaths were made in the last nine raising questions whether development has percolated to all sections.

The families facing hunger should be provided with foodgrains on highly subsidised rates and steps taken to ensure early sanction and release of insurance under NFBS (national benefit family scheme), the commission said.

The commission's mantra to prevent avoid starvation deaths include coverage under livilihood schemes like ICDS, MDM, NREGS and old age, widow and disability pensions.

For children of the hungry families, the commission said that the administration should ensure their admission to SC-ST hostels.

Similarly, it asked the administration to double food quotas for infants, small children, expecting and nursing mothers.