JHARKHAND MIRROR

By Gladson Dungdung

Tehelka 14 November, 2008

The Jharkhand Government uses the naxal violence as a pretext to explain away starvation deaths. 

Chhedan Paharia a victim of starvation

The dilapidated houses, scattered utensils, hanging torn clothes, children, barely clad, and the hopeless faces on the men and women are more than enough to reveal the painful realities of Birhors, the tribals residing in Hindiyakala village of Pratapur block in Chatra district of Jharkhand, where nine of them, one after another starved to death just this October.

Malnutrition, poverty and diseases are in the air. Besides, it has no road, electricity, drinking water, school and health facilities. The Birhor families do not get ration and kerosene oil from the ration shops. Their ration cards lie in the possession of PDS dealers. They have not been provided food grain under any scheme since 1998. According to Kailash Birhor, the officials visited the village only after the news of starvation deaths reached them. The Birhors could just about secure one meal thanks to some forest produce.  Read more…