Bhubaneswar: Expressing concern over the deaths of tribal women in Kandhamal district allegedly due to the consumption of mango kernel gruel, the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has issued notices to Secretaries of Food & Civil Supplies and Health & Family Welfare departments, and Kandhamal Collector.
The Commission has directed the parties to submit their reports by December 20. Also, the Commission, headed by Justice Shatrughna Pujahari, has instructed the Mohan Majhi-led BJP government to address hunger issues and provide immediate medical attention and nutritious food to the affected tribal families.
The Commission’s order came in response to a petition filed by human rights activist Pradip Nayak.
In his petition, Nayak highlighted the plight of the tribal communities in Kandhamal district alleging that the tribal people were forced to eat mango kernel gruel due to delay in distribution of rice under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
As per the petition, two women, Ramita Patmajhi and Runu Majhi, from Mandipanka village in Daringbadi block of Kandhamal district, died and six others fell ill after consuming gruel made from mango kernels on October 30. Initial reports suggest fulminant hepatitis leading to multi-organ failure caused the deaths. Further investigation revealed pulmonary hepatic failure due to fungal infection after two women were admitted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.
The petitioner alleged that the government’s failure to provide essential food supplies, including rice, had forced them to consume unedible forest produce.
The rice supply under the public distribution system had been stopped for the past three months, and even the renewal of ration cards was halted. With no livelihood opportunities, the tribal communities were struggling to survive, relying on forest produce to quench their hunger, claimed the petitioner.
