The Hindu : National : 'Starvation deaths' in Bihar

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 11, 2004

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National

'Starvation deaths' in Bihar

By K. Balchand

PATNA, AUG. 10. After the miseries of floods, reports of starvation deaths have come in from north Bihar. At least four deaths have been reported from Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga and Khagaria. Officials, however, have denied these. The aerial relief operations have been discontinued and so are the community kitchens that had been set up at various places, with floodwaters receding considerably. According to reports, Ajnasia Devi died at Matalpur village under Badra block of Muzaffarpur district, while Bullu Dhankar starved to death in Darbhanga. Two others were reported to have died after consuming water hyacinth in Khagaria district.

Relief not distributed

A mother of six children, Ajnasia Devi had not had any food for well over a week and whatever she could manage went to feed her children, reports said. Her husband, Mauje Paswan, deep in debt with no work, had thrice in vain pleaded with the `mukhiya' (a local official) to provide him foodgrains.

The mukhiya is reported to have admitted that he had not distributed relief though he had received almost 30 tonnes of foodgrains from the State Government to distribute among the flood-hit, particularly those living below the poverty line.

Compensation

The Bihar Revenue Minister, Rammai Ram, who visited the village on Monday, faced the wrath of the villagers when he sought to rule out the starvation death. He consoled the bereaved family, offered a compensation of Rs. 10,000 and provided a sack of broken rice. The story of Bully Dhankar of Darbhanga is no different. Without work for well over a month and his house inundated, he had not had anything for more than a week after the centre which distributed free "kichdi" was closed about a week ago. No relief was provided to the family of four and the borrowed food was not sufficient to feed even the two children.

In fact, the family could not arrange for wood to cremate Bullu Dhankar. He was buried. The district administration denied that his death was due to starvation, pointing out that it had conducted "kichdi" centres.

According to a Khagaria report, at least two persons have died after consuming water hyacinth. The district administration has ordered an inquiry.

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