[Hunger Alert] INDIA: Woman starves to death while her family continues to suffer from hunger in Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
 
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ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAM

3 November 2005

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HA-27-2005: INDIA: Woman starves to death while her family continues to suffer from hunger in Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh

INDIA: Starvation death; government neglect and inaction; abject poverty 
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Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received disturbing information from the People's Vigilance Committee for Human Rights (PVCHR) and other sources regarding the hunger situation of one family who has already lost a member to starvation in Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh (UP), India. Chirauji Devi died on July 10, 2005 due to the acute lack of food. Her husband and several other family members are also on the verge of death owing to hunger.

Poorly administered government schemes as well as blatant government neglect are mostly responsible for the hunger situation that persists in the Sonbhadra district. The AHRC asks you to write to the local administration and Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh pressing them to take immediate action in this case in order to protect, respect and fulfill the right to food for this family, and the many others suffering in the state.

Urgent Appeals Desk - Hunger Alert
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
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DETAILED INFORMATION:

Location: Bichpai village, Robertsganj post, Sonbhadra District, Uttar Pradesh
Persons affected: Chirauji Devi, died of starvation on July 10, 2005. Husband Kedar, sons Rambilas and Vijay Kumar, daughter-in-law Sunita and grandchildren Sonal, Shivani, and Sonu.

Chirauji Devi had not cooked any food in her home for 14 days before she collapsed to death on July 10, 2005. Afflicted with stomach pains for days, she finally died after surviving for days on an empty stomach. Chirauji leaves behind seven family members that include her husband, children and grandchildren, who are now suffering immensely from hunger and malnutrition. In particular, her husband Kedar is sick and on the verge of death.

Chirauji was the sole income earner in her family and had been struggling to provide for their livelihoods. For over one month prior to her death, she had been working as a pond digger under the national Food-for-Work programme, which guarantees 100 days of paid work. However, Chirauji received no payment for her work, even after several requests to local officials and the village council head in her area. Despite the terrible living conditions, Chirauji and her family members were also only white card ration holders, and the price of rations under this Above Poverty Line Scheme (APL) was still too expensive. The family had not been able to afford any rations for three months and should have been given red ration cards under the Below Poverty Line Scheme (BPL).

Chirauji's family had previously been rather self sufficient, owning one acre of agricultural land which was their main source of livelihood. However, severe drought in the Sonbhadra district, coupled with Kedar's illness and a son's handicap meant that suddenly, the family had to rely on Chirauji as the sole provider. For over eight months, Chirauji's family has suffered from extreme hunger, malnourishment and poverty, eating at most one time daily. The surviving family members continue to endure these extreme hardships and will soon suffer the same fate as Chirauji if the government does not intervene immediately and appropriately.

After Chirauji's death, hundreds of workers and labourers from the Bichpai village and surrounding areas came together to also demands for their wages. However, no action has been taken in this matter either.

Hunger, malnutrition and starvation continue to plague hundreds of Indians in Sonbhadra district as well as throughout Uttar Pradesh. It is a problem that the local, district and state level administrations are clearly aware of and acknowledge, however little action is taken. Many victims receive no aid or rehabilitation. Furthermore, the Food for Work and SGRY (employment generation) programmes are rarely implemented and often people under Below Poverty Line ration schemes are not provided with regular nor sufficient food assistance.

SUGGESTED ACTION:

Please write to the district magistrate of Sonbhadra and the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, reminding them of their commitments to respect, fulfill and protect the right to food of the people under their jurisdiction. Immediate food assistance and wages must be provided to the hunger-stricken family, as well as the hundreds of other labourers awaiting their dues. Furthermore, the inadequacies of the Public Distribution System and other employment generation schemes in the state should be addressed.

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Sample letter:

Dear ____________

RE: INDIA: Woman starves to death while her family continues to suffer from hunger in Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh

Location: Bichpai village, Robertsganj post, Sonbhadra District, Uttar Pradesh
Persons affected: Chirauji Devi, died of starvation on July 10, 2005. Husband Kedar, sons Rambilas and Vijay Kumar, daughter-in-law Sunita and grandchildren Sonal, Shivani, and Sonu.

I was recently informed of the starvation death of one woman and the disturbing hunger situation of her family residing in Sonbhadra District, Uttar Pradesh, India. Chirauji  Devi died on July 10, 2005 after reportedly not having cooked food in her home for 14 days. She was the sole provider for her family, which includes her ailing husband, handicapped son, daughter-in-law and three grandchildren. The surviving family members continue to live in desperate conditions, with at most one meal to eat per day.

One month prior to her death, Chirauji began the work of digging ponds under the national Food for Work Programme. Almost daily, she worked as a labourer at the pond, however received no compensation for her work. Even after appealing to local officials and the gram pradhan (village head), Chirauji still received no wages for the days she worked. Furthermore, although the family were white ration card holders, they were suffering such economic hardship that they could not even afford to buy rations for three months at the reduced price. Additionally, no other assistance or wages have been granted to the family at this time.

It is appalling to hear that even after being provided with government assistance and employment schemes, Chirauji died directly from the lack of food. Her husband Kedar is on the verge of death and will suffer the same fate shortly if assistance is not provided. Her grandchildren are malnourished and will also fall sick soon. In a state like Uttar Pradesh, where the local government acknowledges that hunger deaths are occurring, it is disturbing to know that food and work assistance is rarely given. It is even more shocking to realize that when assistance is provided, it is insufficient to protect and fulfill the right to food and life of the people.

This is not the first instance of hunger and starvation in Sonbhadra that has come to my attention in recent months. It is my understanding that hunger and malnutrition is a very real and prevalent problem, one which needs immediate attention. Thus, I urge you investigate the circumstances surrounding Chirauji's death and the hunger situation her family is currently suffering. Furthermore, immediate food assistance and wages must be provided to the hunger-stricken family, as well as the hundreds of other labourers awaiting their dues. Finally, the inadequacies of the Public Distribution System and other employment generation schemes in the state need be addressed.

       
Yours sincerely,

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PLEASE SEND LETTERS TO:

1. Mr. Alok Kumar
District Magistrate Sonbhadra
Collectorate, Robertganj
Sonbhadra District
Uttar Pradesh
INDIA
Tel: +91 54 4422 2190
Fax: +91 54 4422 2090

2. Mr. Mulayam Singh Yadav
Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh
Chief Minister's Secretariat
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
INDIA
Fax: + 91-522-2230002/2239234
Email: csup@up.nic.in

PLEASE SEND COPIES TO:

1. Ms. C.R. Ramani
Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh
Chief Secretary Office
Government of UP
Shri Lal Bhadur Shastri
Lucknow 226001
Uttar Pradesh
INDIA
Tel: +91 52 2223 8212
Fax: +91 52 2223 9283
Email: csup@up.nic.in

2. Justice A. S. Anand
National Human Rights Commission
Sardar Patel Bhaven, Sansad Marg,
New Delhi - 110 001
INDIA
Tel: + 91 11 23346244
Fax: + 91 11 23366537
E-mail: ionhrc@hub.nic.in or chairnhrc@nic.in

3. Justice A P Mishra
Chairperson
Uttar Pradesh Human Rights Commission
6-A Kalidass Marg
Lucknow Uttar Pradesh
INDIA
Tel: + 91 52 2272 6742
Fax: + 91 52 2272 6743

4. Dr. N.C. Saxena and Mr. S.R. Sankaran
Commissioners
Supreme Court of India
SAMYA, R-38A, 2nd floor
South Extention - part 2
New Delhi - 49
INDIA
Fax: +91-11-5164 2147
Email: commissioners@vsnl.net

5. Mr. Jean Ziegler
UNCHR, Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food
c/o Mr. Carlos Villan Duran
Room 4-066 
OHCHR,
Palais Wilson,
Rue des Paquis 52,
Geneva
SWITZERLAND
Fax: +41 22 917 9010
Email: sect.hchr@unog.ch

6. Mr. Anthony Banbury
Regional Director
World Food Programme
Unit No. 2, 7th Floor
Wave Place Building
55 Wireless Road
Lumpini, Patumwan
Bangkok 10330
THAILAND
Tel: +66-2-6554115
Fax: +66-2-6554413
Email: Anthony.banbury@wfp.org or Bkk.unescap@un.org

7. Mr. Gian Pietro Bordignon
Country Director
World Food Programme
2 Poorvi Marg, Vasant Vihar,
New Delhi 110057
INDIA
Tel: +91-11-26150000
Fax: +91-11-26150019
Email: wfp.newdelhi@wfp.org

Thank you.

Urgent Appeals Programme - Hunger Alert
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)