UPDATE (India): Government action inadequate in providing rehabilitation to displaced hunger victims and continued starvation death in Murshidabad, West Bengal

[Re: HU-07-2005: Starvation deaths continue despite government’s commitment to provide food assistance in West Bengal; UA-161-2005: INDIA: Human rights defender physically assaulted, threatened and detained by government officials; HU-04-2005: INDIA: UNICEF still avoiding responsibility in providing assistance to starving women and children in West Bengal; UA-59-2005: INDIA: Police attack on human rights defender and his family in Murshidabad, West Bengal; HA-02-2005: INDIA: Starvation deaths occurring in Murshidabad district, West Bengal]

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information from Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (Masum) regarding recent plans proposed by the government to address the terrible living conditions in Jalangi, Murshidabad, West Bengal. The plans to relocate displaced villagers from several villages in Jalangi however do not provide any permanent solutions to their concerns. Additionally, the AHRC was also informed that another starvation death has occurred. Thus, even though names had been submitted to Public Distribution Shops, to date no one has been provided with food assistance.

The AHRC asks you to contact the Chief Minister of West Bengal and all other relevant authorities urging them to immediately intervene in the hunger situation in Jalangi and remedy the systemic failures in the Public Distribution System. Furthermore, please call on the local authorities to propose a feasible rehabilitation programme for the victims.

Urgent Appeals Desk – Hunger Alert
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
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UPDATE INFORMATION:

In late October, it was reported to the AHRC that the block administration of Murshidabad had proposed a rehabilitation programme for displaced hunger victims from the Dayarampur, Parashpur and Taltali villages who currently have no land or means to provide for their livelihoods due to the Padma River erosion. In the middle of the Padma River lies an island, a piece of land made by the river itself many years ago, that was given to landless tillers in 1974 by the governor of West Bengal under the West Bengal Land Reform Act 1955. The government has now proposed that the displaced villagers from Jalangi be relocated to this piece of land.

Several problems exist in this plan and point to why it is an ineffective remedy to the situation in Jalangi. First, because the land was originally given to landless tillers, they are the ones who have legal claim to it and therefore it cannot be used for rehabilitation purposes. Also, the land itself is not fit for residential use, as water, sanitation, electricity and communication systems are all lacking. Finally, taking into consideration the rapid and swift changes occurring along the banks of the Padma River, the land may also in time be susceptible to erosion and this proposal does not address the continuous loss of land existing in the area.

The local administration is reported to have already started moving victims to the deposited land. Currently, displaced villagers from the Udaynagar and Suryanagar colonies are forcibly being taken to land by the district administration, with the help of the police.

Meanwhile, the Public Distribution System (PDS) is still failing to provide assistance to the hunger victims in Jalangi. The 500-plus villagers, whose names had been placed in ration shops in September 2005, have not been receiving food assistance. The lists were also distributed to the District Magistrate Office and Block Development Office and upon investigation all the victims mentioned were found to be genuinely suffering from starvation and malnutrition. However, ration shop dealers have not been distributing food on claims that they have not received a government order to do so. When questioned on the current status of food assistance to the victims, Mr. Gulam Ali Ansari, Additional District Magistrate (General) of Murshidabad responded that he had to enquire further about the matter.

Tragically, as a result of the government dragging its feet, on October 29, 2005, another man who was listed under the PDS list died of starvation and hunger related illnesses. Ummat Ali Shah did not receive any food assistance before he died.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

For over 10 years, the Padma River has been eroding. Many homes and livelihoods have disappeared because of the swelling river, and the result has been the starvation of villagers in Jalangi. In recent years, the erosion has worsened and the hunger situation has grown significantly.

Several hunger deaths have been reported in the area. Please see HA-02-2005 for more details pertaining on the persisting hunger crisis. Moreover, there have now been questions on more that one occasion regarding the government’s lack of sufficient and appropriate action in trying to address the victims hunger and land needs. Please see HU-07-2005 for details.

SUGGESTED ACTION:

Please write a letter to the Chief Minister of West Bengal and other related officials, urging them to investigate the situation. First, the local administration must be condemned for its poor excuse of a rehabilitation programme and urged to seriously and appropriately address and rectify all the problems the victims are suffering. Furthermore, please request that appropriate measures be taken to ensure that the Public Distribution System in the state provides sufficient and nutritious food assistance to its beneficiaries. The PDS must also be monitored to ensure it works properly, where by being placed under welfare schemes guarantees that quality food assistance is provided. A sample letter is provided below.

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