The Hindu : National : Starvation-like situation persists in some areas, says Buddhadeb

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Friday, Jul 09, 2004

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Starvation-like situation persists in some areas, says Buddhadeb

By Our Special Correspondent

KOLKATA, JULY 8. Though the West Bengal Government has found no evidence of any starvation deaths in the tribal-dominated pocket of Amlashol in West Midnapore district as alleged by some Opposition parties, the West Bengal Chief Minister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, told the Assembly today that a starvation-like situation did persist in certain backward areas.

Steps were being taken to hasten development in areas such as Amlashol and ever since the Left Front had come to power in 1977 the Government had been able to pull out 33 per cent of the people from below the poverty line in the State, he said.

An adjournment motion moved by Asit Mitra of the Congress for a discussion on the alleged deaths in Amlashol that was earlier admitted in the House was subsequently lost when put to division vote. The proceedings were marked by a walkout by MLAs belonging to the Trinamool Congress and the Socialist Unity Centre of India in protest against the Chief Minister's contentions on the issue.

Even before the Minister of State for Forest and Paschimanchal Unnayan [Development in the Western Region] Affairs, Maheswar Murmu, had returned after a visit to the area early last month and had denied reports of starvation deaths in Amlashol, the Chief Minister had announced that his Government was working on a comprehensive plan to remove penury in the most backward parts of the State.

Mr. Bhattacharjee had admitted then that there was indeed a section of people in West Bengal — particularly in the villages — which does live below the poverty line though their numbers were less than those in most other States.

There was poverty and an absence of basic amenities in not only areas such as Amlashol but also in some parts of the Sunderbans and in north Bengal. The State Government was committed to providing these regions with basic infrastructure and economic opportunities, he said.

UNI reports:

He criticised the Border Security Force for resorting to unprovoked firing on several occasions at the villagers along the India-Bangladesh border. To a question of the Forward Bloc legislator, Shiboprasad Malik, he said in some cases the State had to file a case against the BSF. ``There are some problems and these were being sorted out at the State level with senior BSF officials.''

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