New Delhi, 14th February, 2013
The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report alleging that a woman died of starvation on the 29th January, 2013 in District Jajpur, Odisha. Allegedly, the District Administration was approached for help, but there was no response.


The Commission observing that the contents of the press report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of the Right to Life of the victim, has issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Government of Odisha and the District Magistrate, Jajpur to submit a report in the matter within four weeks.


The media report was forwarded by NHRC's Special Rapporteur (East Zone-I), Mr. Damodar Sarangi seeking intervention of the Commission.


Reportedly, the woman, aged 35 years, was residing with her father at Kotpur G.P. under Dharamshala Block of District Jajpur. She and her father had to starve frequently, as he could not work as a hired labourer due to advancing age. The father had been approaching the administration for assistance but without any results.


Allegedly, she had been lying without food for four days at a stretch. The local Sarpanch had informed the B.D.O. over the mobile phone regarding the starving family, before she succumbed to death. However, she did not get any medical attention either from Kotpur or Dharamshala Centres.

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