Starvation death victim's family and village gets relief

The family of a tribal woman who allegedly died as a result of starvation in the month of February this year has been given a relief package by the Andhra Pradesh Government on the initiative of the Commission. Besides this, various measures have been taken up in the victim's village to ensure 'Right to Food' to the people.
The death of Dharawath Kamili, a Lambada tribal living in Lal Thanda settlement in Nalgonda district of Andhra Pradesh and the sole bread winner of a four member family was reported in a national daily on 19 February 2004. The news item alleged that there had been large-scale starvation in the area due to unemployment and lack of food supply through the public distribution system.
Based on the media report, the Commission requested its Special Rapporteur Shri K.R.Venugopal to make an on-the-spot investigation, which revealed several shortcomings on the part of the local administration. The Commission then took up the matter with the State Government, which informed it that the following relief measures have been carried out:
· The licence of the fair price shop dealer has been suspended and criminal action launched against him.
· The Secretary of the Gram Panchayat, the Additional Revenue Inspector concerned and the Deputy Tahsildar, Civil Supplies of the Mathampalli Mandal have been suspended.
· A grant of an amount of Rs.5,000/- to Lakshmi, daughter of Kamili under the NFBS has been ordered.
· Admission of Lakshmi, in the Children's Home, Miralyaguda meant for orphans has been ordered and arrangements for the child to go to school have been made.
· Kamili's parents have been provided with a PDS Card to enable them to draw rice from the fair price shop.
· Old Age Pension at the rate of Rs.75/- per month has been sanctioned to Smt. Sukhini, the mother of Kamili.
· Earlier soon after Kamili's death, drought coupons were given to her parents which would entitle them to get 10 kg. of rice free of cost per month for six months.
· An order to start a work programme in the Tanda at an outlay of Rs.1.00 lakh to provide employment to the people has been issued.