Welcome to the first edition of TRISHNA (or Desire to Allay Hunger), a fortnightly newsletter of the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) and Social Development Foundation (Delhi) which draws the connections between hunger and starvation in India with problems of livelihood, landlessness, displacement and shortages of natural resources. It is especially concerned with the effects of these problems on Dalit and tribal communities, in both rural and urban areas.

Hunger in India is not so much an economic issue as a social one. The majority of people who are victims of hunger and malnutrition belong to Dalit and tribal communities. It is ironic that in the areas of India richest in natural resources, the people are the poorest. This is no accident. It is the result of the age-old caste system, and the rigid social barriers in India that exclude millions from being recognized as human beings. This has been compounded by changes in modern economic structures that have had the effect of further denying these millions basic human rights. Despite the numerous government schemes intended to benefit these persons, in practice they continue to live in daily hunger. At the same time, increasing pressures on the government are causing it to withdraw from what limited programmes for social uplift it has at present.

TRISHNA consists of fortnightly news on these issues, including Hunger Alerts and Urgent Appeals, statements by the AHRC, articles by concerned authors, and a selection of related news from other sources. Contributions by interested persons are welcome.

This first edition is being sent to you as an introduction to our new resource. To subscribe, please use the following link. http://www.ahrchk.net/phplist/lists/?p=subscribe&id=16&id=24  Persons currently receiving the Krodhi Praja Nyayadhisha e-newsletter will automatically receive this e-newsletter as well.