State-sponsored
Murder of Infants in Nagada village under Sukinda Block of Jajpur
district, Odisha
(A
case of Callous, careless and negligence of inept and self-complacent
bureaucracy and insensitivity of corrupt political leadership)
-A
Fact-finding Report of Right to Food Campaign, Odisha-
Date-
15th and 16th July 2016
Members of Fact-finding Team:
1.
Sri Pradip Pradhan
Member of Advisory Group of NHRC on Right to Food, M-
9937843482
2.
Sri Sudhir Mohanty, Advocate, Odisha High Court, M-9861063290
3.
Sri Kalandi Mallik, Dalit Activist and District Convener of Right to Food Campaign, Odisha,
M- 9938618390
4.
Sri Sanjay Sahu, RTI Activist, M-8658416694
5.
Sri Debenbdra Kumar Rout, RTI Activist and Local Volunteer,M-
7381939027
6.
Sri Indrajit Mohanta,
RTI Activist and Local Volunteer, M- 9040303126
Report of Fact-finding Team on Infant Deaths, Hunger
and Malnutrition in Nagada village under Sukinda Block of Jajpur distrit,
Odisha
Introduction
Having been disturbed
over
the news published in
different news papers on 12th July 2016, about 19 infant
deaths of Juang tribes
( Primitive Tribal Groups) in Nagada village coming under
administrative jurisdiction of Sukinda block of Jajpur district,
the members of Right to Food Campaign,
Odisha decided to send
a Fact-finding Team immediately to the
said village to assess the situation of alleged infant death due to malnutrition, reason
of infant deaths and rise of hunger and
malnutrition in Nagada village, socio-economic condition of Juang tribes, status of
implementation of food security Programme and necessary steps required to be
taken up in future to combat the problem.
Visit of Fact-finding Team
Accordingly,
a 6-member fact-finding Team consisting of
Sri Pradip Pradhan, Member of
Advisory Group of NHRC on Right to Food, Sri Sudhir Mohanty, Advocate, Odisha
High Court, Sri Kalandi Mallik, Dalit Activist and District Convener of Right
to Food Campaign, Odisha, Sri Sanjay Sahu, RTI Activist, Sri Debenbdra Kumar
Rout, RTI Activist and Local Volunteer, Sri Indrajit Mohanta, RTI Activist had visited
Nagada village, epicentre of infant deaths on 15th and 16th
July 2016.
On first Day,
the team reached in Ashok Jhari village of Chungudipal Gram Panchayat at 11.30
am and interacted with Smt. Satya Bhama Dehuri, Anganwadi Worker about status
of Angawadi Centre of Nagada village. It took 30 minutes to interview with her.
Then, the Team moved to climb Hill to go to Nagada at 12.30 o’clock. The villagers advised the team not to go to
Nagada village, as it will take minimum 6 hours journey (to and fro) and not
possible to return back in night in mountainous forest track. However the team
dared to climb mountain and covered half of stony track, but could not move
further due to heavy rain and confusion about track and timing of reaching at
destination. The Time was 3 PM. It was decided to return back and start journey
tomorrow at 8 am. They spent night in
near-by village.
On second
day, three members got reluctant and scared to go to Nagada village. However, rest of the Team members Sri Pradip
Pradhan, Sanjay Sahu and Kalandi Mallik, Dalit Activist of Jajpur
district started journey from
Ashok Jhari village at 8.40 am. The mountainous track leading to Tala Nagada village
( village consists of three Hamlets) is around 10 kms. The Team took around 3 hours
journey to reach at Nagada village and spent two hours there covering all three
hamlets and interacting with few Juang tribes
about their conditions and status of their children, health hazards,
food security, implementation of food security programme, assess pf Govt.
intervention etc. The Team started
return journey at 1.30 pm from top of mountain amidst heavy rainfall which
continues upto 6 o’clock. Being suffered physically a lot covering mountain
track in midst of rain, the team reached at foot of the mountain at 5 PM. On
the way, the Team members also came across visit of many Govt. officials to
Nagada village with hesitation. Many officials like Sub-Collector; Kalingnagar
was founding returning back without visiting Nagada village.
Objectives of Visit of the Team
a.
To find out the reason of
infant deaths of the village and status of health condition of other children.
b.
To find out status of
implementation of food security programme and other welfare measures taken up
by the district administration.
c.
To study the socio-economic
condition of the Juang tribals, reason of hunger and malnutrition.
d.
To assess the intervention of
the administration to address the problem of the people and to heck
malnutrition.
e.
Remedial measures needed to be
taken up to address the problem of the tribes in a sustainable manner.
Nagada Village- A Nightmare
Nagada, a
revenue village and habitation of Juang Primitive Tribal Groups is surrounded
by mountainous forest from all sides. It is 18 kms from Chungudipal Gram Panchayat
office and around 20 kms from Tata Mining Hospital. There is no road connected to the village.
Rocky mountainous track is the only path and medium of communication for the tribal
people from their village to Gram Panchayat
and rest of the world. The total population of Juang tribe is around 250 with
36 families (the exact information about population could not be obtained, as
the Team could not meet Sarapanch). Tata Mining operation is just 15 kms from
this area. It was observed that all the
people are thin and short. Almost all children within the age group of 3 to 4
years are seen malnourished. All of them
are illiterate and could not understand Odia language. There is neither
Anganwadi Centre nor primary school in the village. A private Chatashali school
(pre-primary education centre) is running in the village managed by ASPIRE, an NGO which operates from New
Delhi. No Govt. official except Anganawdi
Worker has visited this village within last 10 years, reported by the villagers
during interaction with the Team.
Interview with Satya Bhama Dehuri, Anganwadi Workers
of Nagada village
On 15.7.16,
the Team members decided to meet
Anganwadi Worker ( AWW) who is
the lowest functionary in charge of
Management of Anganwadi centre on which
the whole edifice of ICDS project
, most popular food security
programme designed to check malnutrition and provide nutritious food to the children with age group of 6 months
to 6 years and increase nutritional standard of the children, stands. It deserves to be
mentioned here that ICDS is one of the most important schemes designed to
provide six important services free of cost to both pregnant and lactating
woman and children. These are immunisation, supplementary nutritious food,
health check up, referral services, etc. On query about
status of implementation of
ICDS programme in Nagada
village, Satya Bhama Dehuri, AWW said “
she has been working as Anganwadi Worker from 2007. There is no
Aganwadi Centre in Nagada village. One Angawadi Centre is running in
Guhiashala, a revenue village which is around 5 km from Nagada village. There are 56 children within age group of 0-6
years and 11 pregnant and lactating woman
in Nagada village. Nobody gets breakfast and noon meal under ICDS
programme. The children and pregnant & lactating woman and children use to get THR (Take Home Ration) like two packets
Chhatua and 8 eggs per month. No immunisation programme has been conducted in
the village. Nor Village Health and Nutrition Day is organised in the village
since her joining in 2007. Neither Smt. Tilottama Mohapatra, Child
Development Programme Officer nor Mamata Dehuri, ANM has
visited Nagada to
monitor ICDS programme and health
condition of the children”. On query
about frequency of her visit to Nagada, she said that due
to long distance and communication
problem, she could not go to Nagada village often but
once or twice in a month.
ICDS, Health and Sanitation
While
observing the whole village, the Team members came across almost all children
being suffered from malnutrition. The Team interacted with few tribal women like Turi
Padhan, Kamala Padhan, Guri Padhan, Jaina Padhan, Shukru Padhan, Galei Padhan,
Maguli Padhan said that they usually give birth child in their house. They never go hospital. As there is no Govt. medical nearer to village
and Tata Mining medical is 18 kms from their village, they never go to medical
for treatment. Tuhi Padhan holding her two years baby said that she has four
children. No immunisation programme has been conducted. They are
also not aware about
quantity of Chhatua and egg
they are entitled
to get it. Whatever quantity of
Chhatua and egg is given by Agawadi Worker,
they take it without checking and questioning
it. They use to take egg from Anganwadi Worker once in a month. On query about Mamata Yojana, it was found
that no woman is aware about this scheme and nobody has received Rs. 5000.00
under this scheme. Sanitary environment is very bad. They are hardly aware
about sanitation. There is no drinking water facility in the village. They use water
from stream flowing through river for bathing and drinking purpose.
Food Security situation of Juang
The Team has
the interest to know about staple food of Juang and common food consumed by
them and their children. While enquiring about it, the Team members got
astonished to know that they consume only rice, leaves and salt. While
inspecting their house, no dal or vegetable like potato, onion and oil was
noticed in the village. In case of non-availability of rice, they consume
roots. The Team members also noticed woman preparing forest Chhatu (Mushroom collected from forest) to boil with hot
water for consumption. They do not have idea about agriculture or horticulture
farming. No Govt. scheme is implemented
by Agricultural Dept. for development of farming in the village. They hardly
grow paddy and millets and consume it. As they do not have money, they could
not purchase food or vegetables from the market.
Status of Targeted PDS
As per
National Food Security Act and guideline of Antodaya Anna Yojana, all Primitive Tribal
Groups including Juang are entitled to avail 35 kg of rice per month. But in
this village, many families have been covered under Priority Households
enlisted under National Food Security Act. In view of number of family members,
quantity of rice (5 kg per person per
month) is determined per month. A four-member family is getting 20 kg rice
under Priority Household category. But if this family will be covered under
Antodaya Anna Yojana, they would have got 35 kg rice per month. Faulty survey
conducted by Govt. in this village has deprived many families to get 35 kg rice
under Antodaya Anna Yojana.
Status of NREGA
National
Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme implemented under NREGA has the mandate to
provide 100 days guaranteed employment to the families in rural area. During interaction with the villagers, it
was found that they have not got any work under NREGA since last several years.
The Team could not notice any job card in the village. It is clear that NREGS
work is not being undertaken in the village.
Status of Rural Housing programme
The State
Govt. is implementing schemes like Indira Awas Yojana and Biju Pucca Gruha
Yojana in order to provide house to the poor and deserving family free of cost.
But in Nagada village, the Team could not notice a single house covered under
these Rural Housing Scheme. Many of the house constructed out of mud and
thatched house are in dilapidated condition and not suitable for living. The
tribals also do not have idea about this scheme.
One-day devoted to get Rs. 300/-
On 15.7.16,
while the Team members were returning from Hill, they came across a group of
older people returning to village. It was raining heavily and time was 4.30
PM. The Team members halted them and
enquired to know purpose of the visit. They said that they had come to receive pension
money from Gram Panhayat which is 18 kms from their village. On query about their
journey, they said that they started journey early morning and reached at 11 am
in Panhayat office. They had taken only
two piece of singada in the whole day without meal. They received Rs. 300 each
as pension under Old age pension scheme and returning to village. They spent whole day covering 36
kms (to and fro) to get just pension amount of Rs. 300.00.
Status of Intervention of Govt. in post-infant death
period
During visit,
the Team had assessed steps taken by
the Govt. to address the issues relating to infant deaths. As reported by
media, 19 infants have already died due to malnutrition. Primarily, the State Govt. has taken it health
hazard and started its operation for treatment of children by sending medical
team. Few infants have been admitted in Tata Hospital. Except it, District
administration has not taken any steps to improve health and nutritional
standard of the children. On 16.7.16, the Team came across host of Govt.
officials like Director, Social Welfare, District Child Protection Officer,
Member, State Child Rights Commission, Supervisor, ICDS project and many others visiting Nagada village to
assess the situation. Local MLA Sri Priti Ranjan Ghadei had visited the
village. It was felt that the State
Govt. could not find the ways to address the problem, because they have
remained disconnected from rest of the world.
It was noticed
that a free kitchen has been opened by T.S.R.D. (a social wing of Tata Company)
in the village from 14.7.16. Only rice, dal and soya curry without any
vegetables like potato and onion is served to the children once in a day. It
might have been organised to provide food to the children keeping in view their
food insecurity. If it is so, why the vegetables like potato, onion and other
curry items were not served to the children. Why food is not served to the
villages mostly women who are equally malnourished.
Overall Assessment of the Situation and recommendation
of the Team
1.
Sukinda is rich area with
deposit of huge minerals like iron, Manganese, chromites worth lakhs of crores
of rupees. A number of Companies like
Tata Steel, IMFA, Jindal, Nilahal Ispat are operating, extracting minerals and
carrying business in the area. These
Companies make profit of crores of rupees and strengthen their business world
out of it. With profit gained from this
area, they lead pump and luxurious life and dream of modern India. The idea
behind allowing operation of the companies and setting up of Industry by the
State Govt. is that with huge investment, the area will be developed, job will be
created and socio-economic standard of the people will be developed, livelihood
will be enhanced etc. This is the modern development concept of the Ruling
Class. CSR fund (Corporate Social Responsibility)
generated out of profit of the Companies and peripheral development fund will
be spent for development of the
area as well the
local people. But it was proved wrong in context of Nagada
village. This village is just 15 km from mining operational area of Tata
Company which has not yet seen light of
the development. This village still suffers from hunger, malnutrition, drinking
water crisis etc. the tribals area
leading sub-human life without drinking
water, electricity, food and lack of road connectivity. Exploiting resources of
the area, the Companies, local politicians, MLAs, MPs and officials have been
benefitted a lot at the cost of life and livelihood of the local people. Nagada
village is one of many villages which are suffering from hunger, malnutrition,
unemployment, illiteracy in Sukinda Block. The callous, careless, indifferent
attitude of corrupt bureaucracy and insensitivity of political leadership and
exploitative character of Companies have kept the local people out of
purview of development in the area.
2.
Infant death in Nagada village
is not only case of health hazard from medical point of view. It is a case of
chronic hunger of Juang tribals leading to malnutrition of their children and
subsequent death due to lack of medical treatment.
3.
Causalities in Nagada village
is due to sheer negligence of the administration in charge of monitoring and implementing
various programme. This village has been left out of development project of the
state Govt. for years together.
4.
Many families have not been
provided Ration Card under National Food Security Act due to
irregularities in survey conducted by Govt. to identify
eligible households. Secondly, as per guideline of Antodaya Anna
Yojana, all Juang families deserve to get each 35 kg
rice per month. Most of Juang families have not been covered till yet.
5.
Even after 70 years of independence
and in midst of modern industrial development in Sukinda, there is no road
connectivity to Nagada village. The tribals use forest track and cover 10 kms
by walking to get any service or benefit available under various scheme. Due to
lack of road connectivity, they could not bring their children to hospital for
treatment. Govt. medical team never visits this area to provide free medical
service to the people of Nagada village. The people spend one day ( Rs.
200/- labour wage per day) to get Rs. 300/- pension amount under Old Age
Pension Scheme.
6.
Almost all development
programme and food security programme
like ICDS, MDM, PDS, NREGA, Indira Awas Yojana, Biju Pucca Ghara Yojana,
forest development programme, agricultural and Horticultural development programme etc.
are not implemented in the area. No
Govt. official, local politician and Panchayat representative has ever visited
the village to monitor any work or assess the condition of the people. There is
special tribal sub-plan Juang Development Agency formed to carry out various
welfare measures for socio-economic development of Juang tribes. But this
agency has no presence in Nagada village which is most vulnerable pocket in
Sukinda block.
7.
Food insecurity is a biggest threat
to their life and livelihood. The people consume only rice, root and salt
without any vegetables added to their meal.
There is no cultivation in the village. Rice available to them under PDS
is not at all sufficient to them. They
do not consume any nutritious food. To get nutritious food for the children is
distant dream for them. It was found
that every woman and children are suffering from malnutrition.
8.
ICDS programme, one of the most
important food security programme to
ensure nutritious food to the children is not implemented in Nagada village.
There is no Anganwadi centre being operationalised in the village.
9.
No employment generation
programme under NREGA has been undertaken in the village since last 10 years. The people have not got single work under NREGA
till yet.
10.
There is no Govt. school in the
village. Due to callousness of the
administration, the children have been deprived of getting free education
guaranteed under Right to Education Act. As there is no school, the children have been deprived of
getting Mid-day-Meal.
11.
The Team also noticed that no
Juang family has been allotted forest land patta under Forest Rights Act. Neither the forest officials nor NGOs have
visited the village to sensitise the
villagers about Forest Rights Act.
Recommendations
1.
Responsibility must be fixed on
the officials responsible for implementation and monitoring of development
projects and food security programme in this Gram Panchayat and stringent action must be taken against them.
2.
Few days back, Chief Minister
has expressed satisfaction over the performance of Minister for Women and Child
Development and Minister for Health and Family Welfare handing their concerned
Department. But this was proved false in case of Nagada village. This is not a
single case but one of the many cases in tribal region mostly among Primitive
Tribal Groups where infant death due to malnutrition and hunger is acute and
food insecurity is very high with lack of medical accessibility. These
two Ministers are morally responsible for it and should be dismissed from the
Ministry.
3.
As per guideline of Antodaya
Anna Yojana, all the Juang families are entitled to get 35 kg rice per month.
In Nagada village, most of the Juang families have been deprived to get benefit
under AAY. Responsibility must be fixed on the officials responsible for it and
Criminal proceedings must be initiated against them. The State Govt. must carry out work on
war-footing way to ensure 35 kg rice to each family of Nagada village.
4.
The people do not get
employment for their livelihood. To provide employment to the poor rural
people, the state Govt. is implementing NREGA in rural and tribal areas. But it was found that NREGA work has not been
undertaken in Nagada village since last 10 years. It is case of sheer
negligence of BDO, Sukinda and Sarapanch of Chungudipal Gram Panchayat. Stern
action must be taken against BDO of Sukinda Block and Sarapanch of Chungudipal
Gram Panchayat. The State Govt. should start NREGA work immediately in order to
provide employment to them.
5.
The State Govt. should open a
special ICDS centre in the village with
appointment of all staff and
availability of all facilities. A
trained Anganwadi worker must be appointed to take special care of Juang
children.
6.
Priority must be given for ensuring road connectivity to the village. Due to lack of road facility,
the Govt. officials could not reach in the village.
7.
Solar electrification and Drinking water facilities through
setting up Tube-well should be
done on war footing way in the village.
8.
Each Company has huge CSR fund.
But this fund is not utilised for development of the people residing around the
industrial belt of Kalinganagar. The
State Govt. should monitor the
utilisation of CSR fund and
ensuring fund to be utilised for development of
tribals including Nagada village.
9.
The Team neither prescribes nor
subscribes the idea of displacing and rehabilitating Juang tribes in another
locality. They are accustomed with their
environment and cultural habit. Displacing them to other areas is not the
solution to address their problem. It is fact that they have been deprived to
get benefits for years together for which they have suffered. So, the implementation of all the development projects under Tribal
Sub-plan sheme and Juang Development sub-plan scheme and food security programme and various activities under
Agricultural and Horticultural scheme will no doubt enhance their livelihood
and capacity to survive and grow more to compete with modern world.
10. The district administration should start allotting pucca house to
all Juang families under Indira Awas Yojana and Biju Pucca Yojana.
11. Exclusive Ashram School
should be opened in Nagada village
to provide education
to all the children of Juang tribe.
12. Forest land patta and community forest rights must be given to Juang
families on war-footing way.
13. Nagada issue
should be taken as learning for Govt. The State Govt. should not be complacent with taking few
steps to address the problem of Juang in Nagada village. Primitive Tribal Groups are neglected and surviving
in sub-human condition across the state. The State Govt. must go for
complete assessment of the situation
and status of implementation of all development work in all tribal districts. This is the
opportunity for the state to enhance its
administrative capacity to enforce implementation of its plan and programme meant for tribals across the state.
14. T.S.R.D. is running Ahara
centre to provide only rice and dal to the children once in a day. This is again half-hazard intervention. Such
type of intervention will no way help the tribals. The State Govt. should open free meal Ahara centre Rice, dalma and curry mixed with
vegetables for twice in a day atleast for three months. Similar kind of Ahara yojana can be opened in
other tribal regions where food insecurity is highly acute. Ahara yojana with Rs. 5/- Rice and Dalma in
urban areas should be stopped immediately and it should be diverted to extreme
tribal pockets where poverty, hunger and malnutrition is very high.
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