NHRC pulls up Orissa govt over starvation deaths

Bhubaneswar, Jan 18 (PTI) The National Human RightsCommission today asked Orissa government to submit a detailedreport on health, education and public distribution deliverysystem in Kalahandi-Balangir-Koraput region after 12 childrenin that area died allegedly due to starvation.

The rights body issued the direction at its camp sittinghere while disposing a case of alleged starvation death of 12children in Nabarangpur and Balangir districts in 2010.

The issue was taken up by the NHRC which conducted aninvestigation through its special rapporteur Damodar Sarangilast year.

Besides NHRC chairperson Justice K G Balakrishnan, threeother members disposed the matter at the camp sitting.

Though the state government in its report to the NHRCclaimed that the death of 12 children in KBK region was notdue to starvation, the Commission refused to accept theargument, NHRC secretary K S Mani said.

"Poverty, malnutrition and hunger are rampant in the KBKregion. This made children susceptible to starvation deaths inthe area," Mani quoting the NHRC remark on the matter.