Poverty and Hunger in Nuapada

Lakhman Jagat of Kuliadongri village in Nuapada district died early in the morning of 25, October. The village belongs to Karanbaheli Panchayat under Sinapali block of the district. He was 25 years of age.

“My son died of starvation” says the 80 year old mother of Lakhman, who was totally dependent upon Lakhman for her livelihood.

Lakhman has three brothers, who are living under the same roof but are separate families. The BPL card owned by their parents is the only precious thing they possess. They get 30 kgs of rice and distribute that among themselves. The BPL card shows that, they have not received PDS rice for last 5 months.

Lakhman got ill last month and was unable to work. As he stopped working, it became difficult for him to feed the family consisting of his wife, small child and his mother. So his wife went to Raipur with the little child to search for livelihood.

Lakhman was regularly going to Raipur to pull rickshaw to maintain the family till last year. He proposed Bela Jagat for marriage but could not arrange money for the ceremony. So they started living together 3 years ago. They have a daughter of 8 months. This year they wanted to stay back at home.

“He thought that the government would start job work early this year due to drought” says Lakhman’s brother - Shyamaghana. “But, the work did not start, so Lakhman’s wife went to Raipur” he adds.

“The family was dependent on ‘KILO Chaul’ (BPL rice). When it was stopped, the family suffered” says Jujesthi Jagat of the village.

It is a fact that the PDS rice has not been supplied since July. The entries in most of the BPL cards shows the date 11/07/2011, as the last entry for supply of rice. The villagers have received rice of 90 kgs each for the months of April, May and June.

The villagers have reported about these irregularities to the BDO, CSO and even the district Collector. But no one responded. “The rice stock is rotting in the Panchayat godown, but it is not being distributed. Instead, on 21/9/2011, the Marketing Inspector of the block and the Executive Officer the Panchayat were trying to transport 62 bags of rice without the knowledge of the Sarpanch to sell that on black” say the villagers. The truck carrying the stock was caught by the villagers and handed over to the police. It is interesting that, although both the M.I. and the E.O. were responsible for the crime – only the E.O. was sent to jail.

The M.I. to get rid of the villagers assured that, he would distribute rice on 22/9/2011. He gave this assurance in writing but did not keep the promise.

The villagers filed a complaint before the B.D.O. on 10/10/2011. The B.D.O. assured to supply rice within a week but he even did not take step.

The next complaint was made to Collector and the CSO on 23/10/2011 in their respective offices at Nuapada. As the Collector was not available, the complaint was dropped in the complaint box. The letter of the CSO was given to him in his office. But they did not take step immediately.

The EO of a nearby Panchayat was given the charge of Karanbaheli Panchayat to distribute the rice. He came to the village on 17^th of November to distribute rice for the month of October. Karanbaheli Panchayat has a quota of 273 quintals of rice per month. A total quantity of more than 1000 quintals was the requirement for four months. However, the EO transported only 125 quintals in total. This enraged the villagers. They objected and demanded quota from July to October but the EO was unable to provide the same. The villagers locked the Panchayat godown and said that the godown will remain close till the full quota is provided. By that time 16 quintals had already been distributed to the card holders of Karanbaheli village.

Does this insensitivity of the officials resulted in the death of Lakhman ? The dead body was taken by the police for post mortem. It is sure that, the doctor would not certify this as a starvation death. No one can die of starvation in a country where millions of tons of rice stock is available.

The villagers say that, the countdown has started. Durbal Nag of the village with BPL number 3656 is awaiting his death. “Agriculture labour is not available in the village, where I could have earned wage in terms of paddy to feed my husband and the son” says the wife of Durbal who is on the bad for last one month. Durbal’s only son is an orthopedically handicapped. Durbal’s wife can not go out of the village to find employment leaving the sick husband at home. Durbal is more than 60 years but is not supported under any Social Security Scheme.

The support system in the village has totally broken due to drought this year. Agricultural labour is not at all available.

The situation of Ratnakar Nag – 55 and his mother Bijli – 85 is pitiable. Ratnakar is unable to work since last 3 months. Bijli cooks food and takes care of his son. The only source of income is the Old Age Pension of Bijli. In the absence of PDS, they are not able to purchase rice in open market for the whole month.

Sobhasing Sunani aged 70 is BPL no-3607. He is living by begging. “I have not received rice since July” he says.

There are thousand of Sobhasings, Lakhmans, Ratnakars and Durbals in villages, who are starving without food and …………..we have millions of tons food stocks rotting in the godowns.