INDIA: Fourteen children may die soon due to malnutrition in Varanasi 

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from local human rights organisation, the People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), regarding the case of a malnourish boy who may die soon unless the state government provides immediate medical attention. Two-year-old Sahabuddin is presently being taken care of by the PVCHR. Apart from him, thirteen other children are also experiencing similar condition.

CASE DETAILS:

Sahabuddin is the youngest son of Mr. Mohammad Idrish. Sahabuddin had been suffering from malnutrition. He is aged two years and weighs only six kilos. In spite of the PVCHR informing the district administration regarding his condition, until today, the administration has not provided any relief to Sahabuddin or to his family.

Sahabuddin’s father, Mr. Mohammad Idrish, is a handloom weaver. Earlier, Idrish was working with his own loom. But due to poverty and the decline of handloom as an industry Idrish had to sell his loom, bicycle and other possessions for the treatment of his children who were all suffering from malnutrition. Now Idrish is working with his neighbor Mohammad Munir. But due to the decline of the handloom industry Idrish finds it difficult to get regular employment.

Idrish’s eight-year-old son, Mainuddin, had to work as a child labour who is doing embroidery work on saris. From this he earns Rupees 150 (3.5 USD) in a month. To make things worse the local Village Council has said that Idrish’s family had been considered above poverty line. Due to this the family had been issued with an Above Poverty Line Ration Card (APL Card). With this card (card number 253860) the family cannot obtain any food grains at subsidised price from the state-run Public Distribution Shops (PDS shops).

Since birth Sahabuddin’s life was very hard. Soon after his birth he lost eyesight to his left eye. Since the family had been living in abject poverty, Sahabuddin has not able to obtain any nutritious food. The family even had no money to travel even to a nearby primary health centre for him to obtain any treatment through the centre.

On 12 April 2008, the doctor at the primary health centre, who had examined Sahabuddin, referred him to the Shiv Prasad Gupta District hospital. At the district hospital, he was again referred to the Banaras Hindu University Medical College in Varanasi. But his parents could not take him to the medical college since they have no more money.

On 14 May 2008, a staff associated with the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), Ms. Renuka Srivastava, diagnosed Sahabuddin to have been suffering from Grade III level malnutrition. Ms. Srivastava then referred Sahabuddin to the District Hospital. For time being, Sahabuddin’s parents came in contact with the staffs associated with the PVCHR. The PVCHR took Sahabuddin to the hospital for medical attention and that they have been presently taking care of him. The persons associated with the PVCHR had also gone to the extent of donating blood to Sahabuddin only to save his life. The PVCHR had also informed the district as well as state administrations concerning the boy’s condition, but the administration did nothing so far to help either him or his family.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

Sahabuddin’s case is a typical example of the life of the poor in India. Thirteen children in the same area where Sahabuddin’s family lives in Dhannipur village faces similar situation.

They are: two-and-half-year-old Ahmad Raza (7.1 kilo), three-and-half-year-old Imran (8.2 kilo), four-year-old Gulfam (7 kilo), four-month-old Sahil Raza (4 kilo), one-and-half-year-old Mohammad Imran (3 kilo), one-year-old Noor Mohammad (3.6 kilo), three-year-old Soni (8 kilo), three-year-old Shalmeen (6.5 kilo), five-year-old Sahiba (7 kilo), four-month-old Shabeena Bano (2.5 kilo), two-year-old Saheena Parveen (2.9 kilo), two-year-old Mohammad Israq (3.2 kilo) and six-month-old Noukhta Hasan (2.9 kilo).

The parents of these children went to meet with District Magistrate of Varanasi on 24 May 2008. Till today no action is taken by the administration to address the situation of these children or their families.

For supporting the victims of malnutrition and hunger the Uttar Pradesh government have issued a directive on 24 December, 2004 signed by the then Chief Secretary Mr. Vinod Kumar Mittal to every district administration. This directive requires every Village Council in the state to form a committee for hunger and malnutrition. The committee also is issued an emergency fund. The committee is supposed to work vigilantly. Where ever a credible case of starvation is documented, the family or the person suffering from starvation is to be provided immediate financial help of Rupees 1000 (25 USD).

Due to corruption in government and public services and caste based discrimination in India any help that ought to reach the poor never find them. This case is just one more example.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send a letter to the authorities mentioned below expressing your concern about this case and calling for an immediate investigation.

The AHRC has also written separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food calling for their intervention.

To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER