The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Starvation deaths in PV's village?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Sep 23, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Starvation deaths in PV's village?

By K.M. Dayashankar

VANGARA (KARIMNAGAR DT.), SEPT. 22. "We performed the last rites of Matla Maisamma (55), an agricultural labourer who died of starvation in the village four days ago, by collecting donations. We have also taken up the responsibility to help her son, Venkati (38), a leprosy patient," said the Vangara village Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency (MPTC) member, Bolli Rajaiah.

This sums up the alarming situation in Vangara, the native village of the former Prime Minister, P. V. Narasimha Rao, which is reeling under acute drought.

Maisamma reportedly died of starvation as she could not find employment.

According to villagers, five persons have reportedly died of starvation/ill-health during the last one month, while three distressed farmers committed suicide.

Large-scale migration

The village, which attained importance during PV's regime as Prime Minister, is now a neglected one. The severe drought is forcing villagers to migrate to other places in search of employment and the water table in this upland Bheemadevarapalli mandal villages has fallen below 20 metres. Drying up of all three lakes in the village and depleting groundwater table have brought down the area of cultivation. Rain-fed crops such as maize and cotton have withered.

Artisans hit hard

The drought has affected not only farmers and agricultural labourers but also artisans. A blacksmith, Vishwanatham, reportedly died of starvation due to unemployment and ill-health. His two sons gave up studies and migrated to other villages to eke out a livelihood. Another villager, Marri Mallamma, too died of starvation five days ago.

Hospital in bad shape

The 30-bed hospital set up in Vangara when Mr. Narasimha Rao was the Prime Minister, hardly functions. "There is no doctor or medicines to treat the ailing patients. The only person who opens the hospital is the compounder," villagers said.

Mr. Rajaiah urged the Government to extend the Food-for-work scheme and sanction ration cards under Antyodaya Anna Yojana. He urged the administration to supply drinking water through tankers.

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