2 senior officials to probe hunger death

Following protests from the opposition over alleged hunger deaths, State Food and Civic Supplies Minister and Jamshedpur West MLA Saryu Roy on Thursday said two senior officials of his department have gone to Giridih to probe into the reasons for death of a woman allegedly due to starvation.

“We are trying our best to find out exact cause of deaths. We have sent today two senior officials of the state food, public distribution and consumer affairs department (Joint Secretary Vinay Kumar and additional director Sanjay Kumar) to Giridih to probe into the entire incident. We have asked the district administration to finalise responsibility on why post mortem was not conducted on the woman when there was allegation of hunger death,” said Roy.

The minister said that since the woman did not have a ration card, the food supplies department cannot be held responsible on the issue.

“We can only supply food grains to those who have ration cards. However, considering that there might be several persons who might not be having ration cards despite best of attempts of the government, I have written to the state chief secretary Sudhir Tripathi, yesterday to issue directive for constitution of food grain banks in all blocks of the state which will cater to those individuals who have failed to have ration cards,” said Roy.

Congress has demanded resignation from Roy claiming that 11 persons have died of hunger since September 2017 in different parts of the state mostly due to failure in getting food grains under public distribution system (PDS).

Addressing media, the minister showed the medical reports submitted by the district administration.

“As per report of Sabitri Devi she had medical history of acute parenchymal haematoma and was admitted in RIMS in January this year.  It is also learnt that two sons of the woman were working outside and there was a woman SHG which used to donate food grains to those not having foods. It is not clear whether she died of hunger. However, we will wait for the report by the team,” said Roy.

The food, public distribution and consumer affairs department minister has also written to all the deputy commissioners today that after death of any persons, allegedly due to starvation, there should be post mortem conducted on the deceased at any cost.