Summary

Separation from its origin is bliss or curse……….. It is early to decide, people of Jharkhand just travelled for only 4 year after the formation of new State "Jharkhand". In the year 2000 World was enjoying for entering in 21^st Centaury and various speculation has been made for the generation. It was also good news for "Jharkhandi" that they have been separated and got the new Status after the long battle of separate State.

With new zeal State administration and ruling party steps for the foundation of new State. So many announcement as per the commitment of the government has been made in the direction to develop the State . It was also good opportunity or we can say as challenge to create so many things newly as a system to provide good governance.

It is also fact that since State is facing the drought situation due to low rainfall during the Khariff season. Landowners and labourers lost their kharif season, resulting in loss of livelihood and a bleak long 4-6 months ahead. Many of agricultural labourers who migrated to the rice lands of Bihar soon returned empty hands, as drought had not spared those areas also. The media highlighted the grimness of the situation and people’s extreme vulnerability. It was the month of September when reports of starvation deaths started coming out in the media. Keeping up its past tradition, perhaps the new Raj Dharma, the government denied any deaths due to starvation (Case no.196/2001 PUCL Vs. Union of India – in its decision clearly said "Chief Secretary of the State is responsible for Starvation death in the State") All usual arguments, nonsensical to any sensible person, repeated once again. No sense of urgency and responsibility and finally no relief. Death toll kept rising.

Struggles took place on streets in the affected areas against the administration and were later brought to the streets of the state capital, Ranchi, by the Gram Swaraj Abhiyan, a non-party political platform. The struggle saw an indefinite dharna – a virtual siege of the city – for a number of days, and gherao of the state secretariat twice. The wretched people from all over the state thronged to Ranchi. Finally this led to a meeting of the delegation of GSA with the Chief minister and announcements made by the Chief Minister to tackle the situation and reach out with relief immediately to the affected. The promises ranged from constructing 100,000 ponds in 100 days (literally meaning one thousand pond every day) with the twin purpose of generating employment and drought proofing, making ration available to all BPL families at Antyodaya rate, to universelisation of Mid-Day Meal with cooked food and so on.

Our presence in the most affected areas and our field studies of 61 villages in 4 districts suggest that the promises show no sign of being fulfilled. Only in about 5 per cent villages mere site selection has been done. Not a single human-day of employment has been created in any of the villages studied. Here it is also relevant to mention a study that we have done on the plight of a similar announcement that the previous Chief Minister did in early 2003 in the wake of the drought and hunger deaths in 2002. Then the government had announced to construct 50,000 ponds. Our study shows that not a single tank has been completed in the studied villages so far, besides rampant corruption in the process.

Regarding BPL families getting ration at Antyodaya rate, the officials in the districts have expressed their ignorance of any such direction/notification by the state government. Even otherwise the Antyodaya and Annapurna beneficiaries are not getting their ration regularly and at the stated price.

The sordid state of cooked food under the Mid-Day Meal programme can be understood by the fact that only in about 2 per cent surveyed schools, selection of a cook had taken place and cooked food is actually being served!

Monitoring system of Government is found weak and not able to give the correct picture of the field reality, which is causing in absence of proper and adequate guidance for effective execution of the relief programme, also this has failed to defuse the corruption existing in the system. It is the process of "post mortem" reporting of any events and ultimately vulnerable community is suffering.

Relief Programme in the State doesn’t proved to be relief work as because implementation of the programmes were observed highly irregular and couldn’t be able to give the benefit in time (period when there is a scarcity of food in the community). The allocation under Tank relief programme 2002-2003 was under utilized during the situation of extreme drought in the State.

Recommendations

Gram Swaraj Abhiyan after its study and working experience in the different districts of the State on the issue of drought recommending certain points which can be helpful to improve the status and can save the people from panic situation of drought.

1. The Government of Jharkhand must commit itself to intensive intervention in drought prone areas of the state. Various departments, namely departments of agriculture, forest, soil and water conservation and food and civil supplies should pull their acts together to address the immediate and long-term crisis. A Task Force should immediately be set up to monitor and ensure proper coordination amongst various departments. The Task force must have representation from credible civil society organisations.
2. The government should form a high-powered Drought Mitigation Cell with adequate representation from the civil society organisations.
3. The state government should ensure implementation of various food security related schemes, in true spirit on a war-footing manner. ICDS, Mid-Day Meal, Antyodaya, TPDS, Annapurna, SGRY need special mention.
4. At this point of time, the need is to immediately provide gratuitous food to non-able bodied persons, vulnerable populations such as pregnant women, newly delivered mothers, children, and those families suffering from acute hunger. At the same time, massive food for work programme for able-bodied adults should be undertaken. It is also important to link relief and rehabilitation with development. Thus, it will be important to identify such works under food for work that have potential of long-term mitigation of drought situation.
5. The Agriculture department should allocate fund for the promotion of drought resistant variety of crop, as nearly 50% of Jharkhand is drought prone. Instead of beginning planning process after the occurrence of drought, the department should work in advance as a long-term measure.
6. Relief code should be made public for debate and opinion building on its relevance and amendment required.

In order to assess the severity of drought and hunger situation, the Gram Swaraj Abhiyan undertook a quick survey in 112 villages of 12 blocks of 7 districts, namely Palamau, Garhwa, Latehar, Ranchi, Godda, Dumka and East Singbhum between 22^nd and 26^th August (a list of surveyed villages is appended). Out of these 52 villages were from the three districts of Palamau division. The period covered during the survey was June to August 15, 2004. A summary of the findings are given below:

1. Rainfall was inadequate and irregular during June and July. Rainfall between June 1 to September 8, 2004 has been only 707 mm which is deficient by 25 per cent as against expected normal rainfall of 937 mm during the period. Of 311 Ahars covered in the survey, water availability was only 18% compared to a normal year. Water availability was less than 50% in 495 wells surveyed in these villages. In Palamau division the figures were 3% and 23% respectively.
2. The loss of Halka paddy, an early maturing upland paddy variety that gives food security during September and October, has been to the extent of 84 per cent. In Palamau division the loss has been to the extent of 99%. It is the failure of this crop that causes famine situation in poor households. The future prospect is further bleak as sowing of low land paddy, called Bhari paddy, could take place only on 28% paddy lands in total surveyed villages and 13% in the villages of Palamau. Moreover, 63 per cent of paddy seedlings have been damaged. Aside from crop failure, employment generation in agriculture is almost nil.
3. The possibility of Maize production is upto 51% compared to a normal year which means that it may not provide food security beyond 15 days in the month of September. In Palamau, Maize production may be upto 15% of production in a normal year.
4. A large number of cattle deaths have been reported in the villages surveyed. A total of 3291 cattle – 230 cows, 173 oxen, 118 buffalos, 706 goats, 520 pigs and 1544 hens – died between June and mid August, which restricted the income possibility of poor households during food crisis. Out of this 2671 cattle died in Palamau villages alone.
5. The status of implementation of government schemes in the state is very poor. Only 4% pregnant women in the total survey area reported getting any services from ICDS centers.
6. The implementation of Antyodaya Anna Yojna is pathetic. Of 86 villages from where data was collected on Antyodaya, only in 44 villages beneficiaries reported having received ration during July to mid August 2004. Antyodaya ration was distributed only in 22 villages in June, 3 villages each in May, April and March, and 1 village each in February and January 2004. 9 villages had not received any Antyodaya ration in 2004. The situation is more or less the same in Palamau.
7. In case of Annapurna Yojna is no different. Data is available from 53 villages on Annapurna. Only in 11 villages, beneficiaries had been given ration during July to mid August 2004. Month-wise figures pertaining to number of villages in which any beneficiary had received Annapurna ration was: 15 villages in June, 1 each in May and April, 6 in March, 4 in February and 1 in January 2004. No Annapurna ration has so far been distributed in 14 villages in 2004.
8. Regarding employment generation by the government, the average number of human days generated was less than a human day both in Palamau and in total surveyed villages. Per village human days figure comes to abysmal 25 during the month of July and 32 during June 2004. Corresponding figures for Palamau are 37 days and 29 respectively.
9. Migration has been one coping mechanism in such situations. In the surveyed villages, 1513 persons, in many cases the entire family, have migrated out, leaving the old-aged behind uncared and unattended. The survey found 707 old aged persons who had no body to take care of. Out of these, Palamau has a higher proportion (901 migrants and 474 old-aged). However, the most worrying is the return of many families back as they could not get any employment in Southern/Central Bihar which too is facing severe drought situation.
10. A wild leaf, called Chakora and a root known Gethi, both having very low nutrition content have been main survival food during such situations. Due to over-exploitation of them for the last 4-5 years and also low growth this year because of negligible rains, these food items have also become scarce.

Tetri Devi, age 35 years, resident of Ulgara village, died on 7^th Sep; 2004. Tetri, before her death, used to collect the fuel wood from the forest and sell it in Panki (8 km from the village) market for survival. Seven days before her death, she had recovered from malaria and was too weak to work. Since there was no male member (her husband had migrated for work) in the house to support her for gathering wood and sell in the market, she was not getting proper food since days. Two- three days before her death her brother in law in order to help, collected and sold the wood from the forest at Rs 25/ and also contributed rice to her but it was too less for his own family consisting of 7 members and Tetri and her children. Undoubtedly, Tetri’s frail and weak body needed nutritious and substantial amount of food and revolted against hunger and as a result collapsed. On 8^th September, 2004, her body was burned in the ghat- no post mortem was performed.

As per Jeetni Devi, mother in law of Tetri Devi, the day after her Tetri’s death, BDO came to their house. He gave Rs 600 and put pressure on them not to report the death as ‘hunger death’. He announced that work for 2 wells shall be given to the villagers along with road construction work.

The financial condition of the family was in doldrums. Despite being extremely poor and having old people amongst them, the family was neither a beneficiary of Antayodaya Food grain scheme of govt. of India nor was getting any benefit of Old Age Pension Scheme. They were also not enrolled

Under Annapoorna grain scheme. Tetri Devi was a lactating mother but was not getting facility from ‘Integrated Child Development Scheme’ (ICDS) for additional nutritional food. Public Distribution Shop was also not stationed in the village for benefit. Employment generation activity under Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY) has also not generated employment in the village.

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* It was with the intention of finding the truth and probe into the issue of starvation, a fact finding team comprising of media professionals and social activists visited the region of Palamau and Garhwa between 14^th to 21^st September, 2004. The team members, after discussions with the family members of the deceased, villagers, community workers, NGO’s working in the area and district and state authorities.

The situation of the whole Bhuian community of the village is as concerning as the family. They are the people who have faced the brunt of the drought. Since most of the cultivable land is under the Pandey community of the whole village, all the Bhuians work as agricultural labourers in their land. But this year the situation is extremely difficult for them. With the onset of drought there is not much work in the fields and they are forced to migrate. However, as per people who migrate every year, this year is tough as they are not getting work in many other states like Bihar and Punjab.

Neelam Kumari age 14 years, of village Gopalganj died on 5^th September, 2004. Neelam belonged to an extremely poor family and her father Sudama Bhuian is a landless farmer. Due to this he used to either work on daily wage basis on other people’s farm. This year due to less rainfall Sudama didn’t get job opportunity in the village and was forced to collect grass from the farmland and sell it in Leslieganj market, as a result the cash he earned was too less to sustain the family. Neelam was the elder daughter who used to take care of her younger brother and sisters. Before her death she was very frail and recovering from illness. She was also eating very meager amount of food (mainly sattu) and contributing her share to the younger brother and sister. She didn’t go to school and also was not availing the services of ICDS.

When the death occurred, the family and villagers alleged that the death was due to hunger and with a local NGO’s support (the NGO provided the vehicle) the body was taken to the Sadar hospital, Daltonganganj. Dead body arrived in the evening but the hospital authorities refused to undergo the postmortem the same day. As per the girl’s aunt, after the pressure from local leaders the agreed to do the postmortem the next day but in between the government personnel (BDO was named) pressurized the girl’s father to deny that the death had anything to do with hunger and dispersed the mass who had accumulated to know about the report. Next day the Chief surgeon declared that the deaths were due to disease and not hunger as maize grain was found in the stomach of Neelam. But was the death only due to disease and not hunger?

After the death, the family was provided with 20 kg rice and 15 kg wheat, which was mainly utilized in returning the borrowed grain to villagers and in the death ceremony of Neelam. Presently the family is again facing scarcity of food and is on the diet of maize soup.

"How come when mother is alive, father is alive and the daughter died of hunger? This is surprising and against our Indian culture." DC, Palamau responding to the death of Neelam.

The situation of other villagers, mainly Bhuian’s is equally concerning as approximately 95% amongst them are landless (the land they have is only for house and bari in which only maize can be grown). The Anganwadi center and the mid day meal scheme in schools is not running in a proper way. As per villagers the ICDS worker used to sell murhi (the food provided in the center) in the local market. The BDO doesn’t visit the village and when they go to complain about the misgivings they are ill- treated and threatened by the clerks and other office people.

Lepsi Devi of Saruat pahad*, Gadhwa district had died of starvation on 10^th August, 2004. The death was amongst the initial hunger deaths reported from Jharkhand and was widely reported in press. Due to this the CM had visited Gadhwa and ordered an enquiry. After the enquiry what was found was that the lady had not died of hunger but disease.

The husband Bohran Korwa and other villagers belonging to Tillaiya Tola are still not ready to believe in the enquiry report. As per them, Lepsi had been on the diet of ‘chakwad saag’ (a wild plant found in hills) since a week since there was neither any money nor any food in the house. Even for getting the saag she had to travel for around two hours in the hills, as a result she had become extremely weak and died.

Surprisingly, as per DC Gadhwa, date of death of Lepsi Devi, who died in Saruat-path was wrongly reported. As per official records, the family of Lepsi Devi, (which he showed to me) the lady had died in July (7^th day) but the newspaper ‘Prabhat Khabar’ reported the death to have taken place in August. In the ‘Death certificate’ form, it is mentioned that the lady was suffering from disease. He blamed the paper for creating the scandal.

However, as per a local NGO, Janchetna, after the death, Bohran Korwa was no where to be found and was actually taken to Bhandaria and kept under surveillance of BDO and other officers who pressurized him to admit to the death have been caused due to disease.

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* Saruat pahad is a remote village situated amidst dense jungle, at a height of 3819 feet above sea level. There are two ways to reach the village and both are equally dangerous and difficult. No vehicle can reach there and trekking (it took approx. 2 hours to climb up to the village) via steep hilly and slippery path is must. Perhaps, that’s the reason due to which the village is normally cut out from the world activities.

Replying to this, Bohran had only one thing to say that he was with the BDO of the area for around a week. He was made to put his thumb impression on a few papers, whose contents, being an illiterate, he doesn’t have any idea about.

People of Korwa (primitive tribe), Nagesia and Yadav community live here and lead a life full of challenges. Most amongst them are extremely poor, illiterate, unemployed people whose only source of employment is farming in their miniscule pieces of land. There is no electricity, no irrigation facility, no clean drinking water, no market, no health center, no ICDS facility in the village or its vicinity, and even to reach the district office it takes approximately 2 days (one night villagers stay at Badgad). As per the residents of the villagers, no MLA or MP and very few officials have visited the place, perhaps that’s the reason that no development has taken place!

DC’s clarification: Why would the BDO keep Bohran captive? Actually he was with the local politician who had bribed him to put pressure on us. The politician (name not disclosed) had even called us over to meet Bohran but I refused to budge under pressure.

DC Garhwa - I wanted to visit the family of Lepsi Devi but couldn’t as I was informed that extremists, who inhabit the jungle, were active that day.

As per DC Garhwa, a medical team had visited Saruat pahad and checked 87 people. But

shall mere check up suffice in a village where people are suffering due to starvation?

Bohran Korwa has continuous chest pain. Although he has not shown to the doctor but the reason as per him is that the irrigational facilities needed to do terrace farming in the area are not available. As a result he has to do extremely strenuous and painstaking work of ploughing the land manually.

Biphen Bhuian, village Bhalogaadi, died on 15^th Sep, 04. After his death his children have become orphans. The family has no land and is presently the small children are in their relatives house. As per Anita Kumari, elder daughter of Biphen, even when her father was alive, the family was dependent on neighbours and relatives mercy for food as what he earned as agriculture labour was insufficient. After his death who shall look after the family?

Villagers of Bhalogadi – The well in our village is Kutcha and not well made. The water we are drinking is dirty and has insects. No BDO, CO come to our village to check it.

Shakunti devi of village Bardiha, died of hunger on 1^st Sep;04. After her death, due to local politicians pressure, the body was taken for post mortem. Although the civil surgeon declared the death to be due to disease and not hunger (some yellow fluid was found in the stomach) but the husband and neighbours donot agree. As per them the lady had not eaten since three days and was over exerting by working in the fields. Some neighbours did give the family some leftovers, but she probably gave more to the child and husband and suffered- due to death.

Lakhan Bhuian is a depressed man and the depression is for two reasons. One because his wife Shakunti devi died of hunger and two because Shakunti was the only earning member of the family (since Lakhan being a handicapped person cannot work) and after her death who shall fend for him and his son. Despite BDO and SDO’s visit and assurances the situation of hunger still remains the same as the money and grains he got after the death are over. What will happen?

Women of Bardiha are a brave, courageous and self-respecting lot. Why? Because when they saw that the village’s so called mukhiya, would not allow them to put forward their point of view and describe the exact situation to us. Some of them told us to come and inspect few houses where death could happen any moment due to lack of food. They were so quick that the mukhiya couldn’t react. They took us to Zhaman Sahu, Amanat Miyan and Bhukhen Prajapita where there was no grain. The general condition of the people and their huts conditions told the story of penury and hunger.

The women told as to how they also faced a similar situation and how they were fed up of the conditions and wanted to work. They urged the government to provide them with work and not any benefit for if they have work they would be able to fend for themselves and not be in need of any benefits.

The situation of village kusumatanr, where 2 starvation deaths were reported last year, has still not improved. The relief provided, in form of digging up of a pond, has gone waste for the pond is dry as it was not dug up properly. Also poor people of the area are devoid of work and are facing scarcity of food and clean drinking water.

Jogo Kunwar, whose husband, Sunder Bhuian died due to hunger last year is a broken woman. Like last year, this year too the family (4 children and herself) have neither any fixed source of income nor constant supply of food. The family is surviving on maize soup, three times a day. She recalls that the minister came last year and gave her Rs 500. He had assured her of Family Benefit Pension. She has still not got the facility. As per her, ‘ The Panchayat sewak comes, but doesn’t do anything, also went to DC but couldn’t get any relief. My children go to school but mid day meal is not there. Presently water scarcity is there and for me ‘well’ with water is the utmost priority.

COMMON COMPLAINTS OF VILLAGERS

In all the villages administration and working of TPDS system was questionable. Most of the affected families and village community members were facing problems and difficulties of the similar kind, which are as under:

The people complained of being left out of BPL lists as the people who did not meet the selection criteria were put into the list and the poorest were left out. As per them many in the neighbourhood, who had pucca houses, cattle and quite a lot of land were having their name on the list while on the other hand there were cases of really poor families who had no secure employment and no food security were excluded from the list.

Bigen Bhuian, Narain Bhuian and Shiv Singh of village Ulgara, have neither any card nor land.

Shanti Devi, village Ulgara, looks visibly sick. Her husband is also suffering from rheumatic pains (gathia). She has 5 children and old in-laws in her house to look after. There is no food in the house and no source of income. They are also not availing of any benefit scheme. As per Shanti, "we are surviving on water. Please help us."

The functional BPL lists were made as per 1996-97 survey and might be faulty. After CM’s orders new BPL lists are being made with utmost sincerity – DC of Palamau

Officials came to ask about our antecedents regarding making of new BPL lists, but, believe us, they shall tear it as soon as they shall sit in the jeep – Villagers of Bhalogadi

Several old and destitute persons in the surveyed villages complained about their names not being in the list. Many pensioners complained that they got less money or lump sump money after many months.

On 21^st Sep; 04, when the fact-finding team visited the BDO office, distribution of pension was taking place. Most pensioners were getting around Rs 500 to 600 rupees. They were neither clear about the time period for which they were collecting money nor were they being told by the officials. They used to go, take the money and put their thumb impression and move.

Many villagers showed their cards to prove as to how the dealer was making a fool out of them and misusing his power by giving them only kerosene oil when they were eligible for grains also. Fake or inaccurate entries were visible in the ration card. Even when the cardholders had not purchased a single kilo of wheat or rice since months, a purchase of 35kg had been entered in the card. (In many cards it could be made out by the pen’s ink that entries of many months had been entered on one date.)

We have got ration 4 times in the last 8 months. Also we should get 35 kg per month but are getting 30 kg only. When we complained to the dealer, he said, ‘You’re entitled for this only.’ When I went to the SDO, he said, ‘You’re a liar.’ – Tapesar Bhuian, village Salaiya

Kameshar Sahu of village Bhalogadi says that the dealer of the area makes fraudulent entries in his card. ‘If I complain he scolds and abuses me.’ I have put up an application to the DC in July, regarding this and am waiting for his reply.

We have an Antayodaya card but dealer doesn’t give us ration on that -Bhagendra Singh, village Salaiya

According to Supreme Court orders, ration shops should be open for 26 days in each month, however in the above villages the shop was only open for a week to ten days only. The opening times were short and unpredictable. Many people said that whenever they visited the shop it was found closed.

The attitude of dealers was hostile and unfriendly. Most were labeled as corrupt and ‘anti-poor’ by the villagers.

Kaila Devi of village Salaiya, says, ‘The dealer is a thief. He enters 35 kg grain on my card but gives me less.’

DC Palamau, in his conversation also agreed to the prevalent corruption at all levels. He cited an example of a dealer Ramji whose wife had been allotted Indira Awas Yojana, against the rules. DC talked of suspending the dealer.

Role of ‘Panchayat Sewaks’

As per rules the Panchayat sewak is the link between village and officials. A person who takes the ‘correct’ report of the village and gives it to his officers so that the benefit of all people especially poor and helpless is ensured. Ironically, in all the villages, as per the villagers, the panchayat sewak hardly visited the village and was getting all the work inclusive of making BPL lists was done via ‘middlemen’. These middlemen took and gave bribes for every small and big work done in the village, thus harming the interest of villagers.

PACE OF RELIEF WORK

In all the villages surveyed no major relief work was in sight. What was visible was minor work like re-digging of a non functional well in Bardiha (which as per the villagers had no relevance as there is already a handpump in that area which is sufficient for drinking) in front of Lakhan Bhuian’s house or construction work in Saruat path which has provided employment to few people of the area.

Approx Rs 20,23,603 was lying unused in the government accounts. Out of 95 villages in Leslieganj block alone relief work has not started in 45 villages, a fact ascertained by the BDO of the area.

Analyzing the response of government machinery towards recurring drought and what steps were taken by them to prevent them, although, this year, the govt had announced drought in June only, relief and rehabilitation work had not picked up pace till September. In September, the Chief minister has announced a scheme of building 1 lakh ponds in 100 days in order to ensure employment to poor households and to improve the general situation , but as per people, this seems to be a mere eye wash or election stunt. The pessimism is based on last year report – when construction of 13, 324 ponds was started in August 2003 but only 1518 ponds has been constructed under Jharkhand government till March 2004. Also on 9^th September, 04 CM had called a meeting to assess the expenditure on developmental activities and it was revealed that the state had spent only 3.27% on Agriculture. Since the livelihood of people of Palamau depends on agriculture, this again reveals apathy of government towards Palaumu where approximately 90% of population is rural and directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture.

As per Dashrath Prasad Chandravanshi, "The announcement of building 1 lakh ponds in hundred days is a mere eye wash – an election stunt. "

As per Ramnath Yadav, a resident of Daltonganj, corruption is the root cause of all evils inclusive of starvation deaths in Palamau. The money allotted for development is distributed amongst politicians and middlemen only and that’s the reason for no development having taken place.

THE ATTITUDE OF HIGHER AUTHORITIES

All the officials we met in connection with the reported starvation deaths be they BDO, SDO or DC had a defensive approach. Although they all agreed that there was under-nutrition and mal nutrition prevalent all over Palamau and Garhwa but refused to acknowledge that the deaths had anything to do with starvation. All of them (inclusive of Food and Civil supplies Secretary) were aware of the menace of middlemen and corruption prevalent at all levels and also consented to the TPDS system being misused and wrongly implemented, yet as per them, they were still in the process of deriving a ‘fruitful’ strategy to curb it. When informed about people’s complaint about the authorities not being accessible to them they all said they are working in that direction and had suspended a few employees (a panchayat sewak and a dealer). They all expressed fear from extremists who are active in the region. As per them naxalite activities had curbed their interaction and movement in the area. All of them talked about their inability to help all the poor families as the schemes could benefit only limited percentage of poor people.

As per DC Palamau, he is adopting 3 way strategy to curb ill effects of drought, as per which 1^st step would be to identify the poorest of poor; 2^nd step is to ensure correct dispersal (at that time some 621 quintal rice was being distributed) and the third step being to generate employment via various schemes. He also talked about release of some 2 crore and 38 lakhs of rupees by the govt. towards relief and developmental work in the area. Regarding accessibility to people ‘Janta Darbars’ were regularly organized in which people could come to meet him and tell about their problems.

To ensure discipline, we are getting surprise team check up of our area. Also regular meetings at block level and panchayat level (no panchayat is functional?) are taking place – DC, Garhwa

The situation in the district is not good and congenial. Due to erratic rainfall, crops have suffered. Unemployment has increased – DC, Garhwa

Calamity relief fund consists of a fixed amount of money and we have to consider all kinds of calamities, which might fall in future before allotting money. Relief and rehabilitation secretary

We are starting with the work of building 1 lakh ponds and I am in the process of releasing Rs 12 crores as a first installment towards this – Secretary of Relief and Rehabilitation Department

Have you been to Orissa? Do you know what is the situation of hunger there? The situation in Palamau is better than many places – Secretary, Relief and Rehabilitation Department

95 to 98% lifting and distribution is taking place – Secretary, Food and Civil supplies Department

PREVAILING SITUATION OF HUNGER

The situation of lack of food and hunger had not changed for the people of affected families in villages surveyed as the one time relief of food grains given to them is over. Also many of the poor families belonging to the village were still on diet of maize soup or wild plants.

Timan Bhuian, an old man of village Ulgara, is suffering from TB. He says that there is no one to look after him or fend for him. ‘My son doesn’t take care of me, not because he doesn’t want to but because he has to take care of his children and family. There is scarcity of food also. Will he give food to his children or an old man like me?’

Mango Devi, village Ulgara, has no food in her house and even clean drinking water is not available. Since 15 days her family is on the diet of maize soup. She has no energy left in her and there is also pain in her feet. Children are suffering from fever, cold and visibly look weak and under nourished. There is no doctor nearby, what shall she do?

Sukhen Bhuian has two sons, both of them earn but not sufficient enough to feed him. He has not eaten properly since days and is feeling extremely weak.

BDO doesn’t visit our area. No anganwadi worker visits our village. We have not eaten substantial food since a long time. If such a situation prevails and relief work doesn’t start, there can be another death due to hunger any time. Suneshar Bhian, Ramnath Prashad and others.

Dharmdev Korwa, Village Saruat-path has got work as a labour. He says,’I am not well but will have to do work. Our family is able to eat rice due to the money I earn but even that is enough to satisfy our hunger.

My child is suffering from fever. I have no food and no money in my house. I have taken loan from somewhere on interest but how long shall it last? – Kesar Devi, village Bhalogadi

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE ON HUNGER DEATHS

Ironically, the government and authorities, despite knowing the status of the region and the people have declared these deaths due to diseases. Although post-mortem was performed only on 3 dead bodies, DC, Palamau did not hesitate to say that all the deaths were not a result of starvation. In early September, the Chief Minister, Arjun Munda, declared that there was only one death due to hunger but later he disowned this statement also. Could these deaths be prevented? If yes who’s responsible for the deaths and what should be done to prevent such deaths in future?

Santhal Pargana division consists of six districts namely Godda, Deoghar, Jamtara, Dumka, Pakur and Sahebganj. The livelihood of rural inhabitants primarily dependent on agriculture, forest and agriculture labour. During scarcity, people use to migrate to other areas in search of bread. The amount of rainfall and its distribution affects the agricultural operation, thus affecting the employment opportunity. Inadequate rainfall, land alienation leading to landlessness and poor implementation of social security schemes, corruption in developmental schemes primarily contributes to hunger situation in Santhal Pargana.

Rainfall and its distribution:

The bare observation reflects that though volume of rainfall in Santhal Pargana is not extremely less but distribution of rain has affected the crop and its growth. The rainfall status shown in tables (published in Hindustan, 09.09.2004 & Prabhat Khabar, 15.09.004) speaks two different stories. The government data are conflicting and contradictory to each other. It seems government departments are manipulating the data.

The department of agriculture, Santhal Pargana (Prabhat Khabar, 15.09.2204) claims that in Santhal Pargana paddy coverage is 29% less and rainfall is 64% of the average rainfall. The department claims that there is partial impact of drought in Santhal Pargana. But hunger deaths and field reports reflects severe impact of drought in the region. Crop coverage in Pakur, Deoghar and Jamtara is very less.

Source: Hindustan, 09.09.2004

Source : Department of Agriculture, Santhal Pargana (Prabhat Khabar, 15.09.2004)

Crop coverage (13.09.2004, Hindustan): In Jharkhand total cropped area under paddy is 1770000 ha whereas actual paddy transplantation has been done in 1120000 ha, which is 37% less than the potential (up to 30^th August 2004). The total rainfall is 25% less than the state average. Total cultivable land area is 25.95 lakh ha and has assured irrigation in 1.99 lakh ha of land, which is nearly 9% of the total cultivable land.

The table shows that in Sahebganj and Dumka districts, the crop coverage is reasonable, whereas in Jamtara, Godda and Pakur it is less than 50%. In Deoghar, the coverage is as low as 36.44%. Source: Department of agriculture, Jharkhand (Hindustan, 13.09.2004) (up to 30^th August 2004) BPL families

This reflects the employment opportunities generated in agricultural operation, which is less than the 50% of the rural potential.

Source : Hindustan, 07.09.2004

It is ironical that when people tell their heartbreaking stories of empty belly, the authorities blame diseases for starvation deaths. For them a grain of food in the belly showed in any post-mortem report is enough to prove availability of adequate food in the family to eat. The Gram Swaraj Abhiyan undertook a study of Body Mass Index to show how scarcity of food leads to malnutrition and subsequently to disease and death.

BMI is regarded as the indicator of nutritional status of the mass. Most of the data has been collected in villages inhabited by the Bhuiyan community. Sampling was purposive because most of the starvation deaths have taken place in the Bhuiyan community. Secondly BMI also speaks the starvation status. BMI data were collected in two rounds – first time in 2003 and next in 2004, both time in the month of September as September was starvation month during both the years. The data of 2003 covered 279 adults and 213 children in 18 villages of Lesliganj block of Palamau district . The data of September 2004 covered 664 adults and 425 children from 18 villages in the same block of the district.

Among the under-6 age group, the presence of 18.82 per cent in the category of "poor" during 2003 was obviously high in comparison to the category which shows healthy physic whereas "acute" cases were found 15.76 per cent which was alarming. Altogether 34.58 surveyed below 6 years children were badly malnourished. The data show no change during 2004. with minor variations in distribution in poor and acute category, 34.26 children still remain in the chronic stage of malnutrition. Children in these two categories need special care for survival. ICDS programme has specific role in this regard. Of particular concern are the 14 per cent children in acute stage of malnourishment who may die if steps are not taken on urgent basis.

During 2003, 6.47 per cent adults were found in the category of "low" whereas 6.62 were found "below low" cases. Altogether they constituted 13.09 per cent. To any humane society, this will be considered unacceptable. However, the most alarming is the increasing trend of increase in severe and chronic malnutrition. The data of 2004 show 26.23 percent adults in ‘low’ and ‘below low’ categories –more than double. Equal increase has been registered in both the categories.

Will the government wake up to the call?

The letter no.65, dated 13.2.2003, signed by the Secretary to the Government of Jharkhand, mentions that due to drought situation in Santhal Pargana and Palamau division, the government has decided to create additional irrigation facilities and undertake employment generation in the villages. Keeping this purpose in mind, it has been decided by the government to construct tank in the villages under the relief work.

Further, with reference to the departmental letter no. 811, dated 7.8.2002, the government decided to start the relief work in 212 blocks of the Jharkhand, allocated Rs.60 crores for this purpose. The letter mentions the followings:

• As per the norms it was decided that every village would be given maximum of 70,000/- in the account of village Vikas Samiti.
• Every tank would be constructed with the minimum measurement of 100 x 100 x 10 feet.
• Money was allocated only for new tank in the villages and would not be spent on renovation of old structures.

This study was conducted in the month of September 2003, in Lesliganj block of Palamau district as a sample survey. Study covered 118 tanks of the Lesliganj block. A questionnaire format was developed to collect information. Grass root volunteers were involved in the process of collecting data.

• The decision was to construct only one tank in one revenue village, but it was found that two or three tanks were being constructed in the same village. Thus, there was no check on the identification of site for the work. This also shows who would have benefited the most from the programme.

• No Gram Sabha meeting as such was organised in the villages for the formation of Gram Vikash Samiti. Only few households attended the meeting and finalized the Gram Vikash Samiti.
• There was no publicity of the programme before implementation of the work.

• It was the responsibility of the Govt. employees, i.e., Panchayat Sevak, school teacher, etc. to call the meeting at village level and to inform the villagers about the relief programme, but they failed to do so.
• Gram Vikash Samitis were formed and the money sanctioned for the work without following the process. It is clear that norms of quorum were met on paper.

• It was found that Govt. engineers had not visited the villages during site selection.
• Old tank, ahar, nala, etc. were renovated out of this money – a clear cut violation of the norms.
• Payments had already been made for whatever old structures stood in the village implying that there was a nexus of Officials and contractors operating in the scheme. Moreover, the purpose of creating employment was defeated. There existed a greater opportunity to manipulate measurement

• It was found that villagers were not aware about the payment made by the Block officials.
• Payments were made without the measurement of the work at the site. Villagers were also not aware about the work progress.
• Engineers passed the papers without any verification.
• Work has been very irregular. This is evident from irregular payments made for the work.

• Villagers alleged that block officials took about 10%-20% of the approved amount as bribe.
• The Gram Vikash Samiti paid first instalment as bribe to the Govt. officials.
• Gram Vikash Samiti in turn indulged in corruption, emboldened by the precedence set by the block officials.
• Display of information was not in practice during the construction period.

• In most of the cases the work remained incomplete because a large part of the money was siphoned off as bribe.
• Labourers continued their out-migration, as they were not sure about payment of their wages.

• Muster role was supposed to be filled at the village level and the Gram Sabha to give approve.
• Workers and villagers are unaware about muster role.
• No transparency was maintained while filling the muster role in the work.
• Minimum wage was not paid to the labourers.

Promises do not cost a penny. Politicians rely on supposedly short memory of the people, though people have time and again proved them wrong. One of the responsibilities of the Gram Swaraj Abhiyan, as a part of the civil society, is to keep track of the promises and their fulfilment. The GSA undertook a quick survey through our constituent organisations in the field to find out how many promises have been fulfilled. Sadly, the gap between the reality and rhetoric galore. The following pages bear a testimony to this contrast.

Following are the announcements by the government in the wake of recent hunger deaths.

A rapid survey was done on 9^th November on one single day in 4 districts of the State. Government officials such as SDO, Block Development Officer and DC were contacted. School teachers and PDS dealers were also contacted in order to collect information.

In the cabinet meeting on 15^th September, the Government of Jharkhand announced its decision to undertake construction of one lakh new ponds in the state within 100 days with the twin objectives to provide employment opportunities and to create additional irrigation facilities. The plight of a similar announcement in 2003 by the State Government is well known by now. Ponds have been completed only on papers but remain incomplete in reality. The media has highlighted innumerable irregularities during the implementation. So, apprehensions were natural when the new announcement was made. This time, in decision was taken by the State Coordination Committee of the GSA to monitor the progress of the scheme right from the beginning and intervene wherever necessary.

This rapid study, undertaken about a month and a week since the declared start date of the scheme – 2^nd October, covered 61 villages of 23 Panchayats falling in 9 blocks and 4 districts. The responses that we got upon our enquiry are as follows:

• Only in about 5% villages people confirmed that a site had been selected, that too by the Government officials. However, work was yet to start in all of the surveyed villages.
• Gram Sabha meetings have not taken place or at least people from the poor sections were not aware of any such meeting. They did not know about the guidelines and other details of this work.
• The District officials, when contacted, informed us that a guideline for the construction of the tank has already been prepared and they have also received instructions from State headquarters.
• The Guideline seeks help of the local MLAs in implementation of the programme and gives them upper hand in construction related matters, including selection of sites.
• After the declaration, not a single day of employment has not created in the surveyed villages. Apprehensions have been expressed that unless completed by December or early January, sanction and thereafter payment for individual units may be put on hold after notification of Assembly elections which are due in February or March next year.

After declaring the state as drought-affected, the Cabinet decided in its meeting on 10^th of September to provide ration to all BPL families at the Antyodaya rates, i.e., Rs.3/- per kg rice and Rs.2/- per kg wheat.

To assess the compliance of this announcement, on 9^th November, we collected data from 49 villages of 26 Panchayats in 9 Block of 4 Districts. Our findings are given below:

• When contacted, the SDO of Palamau said, "we have not received any notification regarding this, therefore no initiative has been taken".
• PDS dealers in the surveyed villages also repeated the same statement.
• When told about this announcement, villagers mocked it by saying that they do not get even the Annpurna and Antyodaya regularly and on stated rates.
• Unless a notification is issued by the state government, announcement has no meaning. If the present government does not notify its decision before the Assembly elections are notified, it will prove another hoax.

Under pressure from the Supreme Court and repeated reminders from the commissioners of the Supreme Court, cooked food under the Mid-day Meal programme was started in the State. In first phase government started mid day meal programme in 200 primary schools of the State. There have been several reports, including a few by the Gram Swaraj Abhiyan, about non-adherence to the Supreme Court’s guidelines. The state government announced to universalise the programme in the wake of severe drought. Our rapid survey covered 61 villages and the findings suggest that this programme has also met the same fate as the other two mentioned above.

Our Findings:

• Mata Samiti have been formed in 31.58% of the primary schools. These Samitis are assigned crucial role in implementation of the programme.
• Bank account has been opened only in 17.54 % primary schools for handling of accounts.
• Selection of the cook has taken place only in 1.75 % primary schools.
• Mid-day Meal programme has started only in these 1.75 % primary schools.

Nav Bharat Jagiriti Kendra (Khunti), Trust for Community Development and Research (Ranchi), Jan Chetna Kendra (Garwa), Vikash Sahoug (Chatturpur), Sahid Nilamber Pitamber Foundation (manatu), Alternative for India Development (Palamau)

Gram Swaraj Abhiyan was formed as an umbrella organisation by a number of NGOs who participated in a State Convention on "Challenges and scope of Development in Jharkhand" organised on 30-31^st August 2001 at the State Capital, Ranchi. The main purpose for formation of this platform was to strengthen movements in the state for right to food and work, right to information and more powers to the Gram Sabhas. Since then a number of initiatives have been taken to strengthen the Gram Sabhas, to enhance people’s control and ownership over common resources such as land, forest and water, to create public awareness on right to food, right to work, social security schemes, and to create systems of public monitoring of these schemes. Issues of hunger deaths, mid day meal, leasing out commons to private national and multi-national agencies, social audits, advocacy for making changes in Jharkhand Panchayati Raj Act in the light of PESA and Bhuria committee recommendations have been taken up by Gram Swaraj Abhiyan. In fact, it has earned an identity for raising the issue of hunger and food security related schemes in the state. It has been carrying out periodic studies to monitor implementation of food security related schemes and is trying to popularise social audit throughout the state as a tool to empower people, seek accountability of the administration and the political executive, and to fight against corruption. It has organised a number of protests and struggles on these issues.

Gram Swaraj Abhiyan conducted a rapid study throughout the state to assess the severity of drought situation. A number of member organisations like AID, Jan Chetna Kendra and Vikas Sahyog Kendra from the Palamau region; Chetna Vikas, SATHEE and Lok Prerna from Santhal Pargana and from the Ranchi region TCDR and NBJK were involved in this study. The study was conducted in 112 sample villages from 12 blocks of 7 districts, namely Palamau, Garhwa, Latehar, Ranchi, Godda, Dumka and East Singhbhum. The study was released on 30^th of August in a workshop cum press conference and drew huge media response. The report focused on rainfall pattern, sowing of crops, availability of food and status of food security related government schemes.

The constituents of Gram Swaraj Abhiyan took up the issue at the local level with the administration in their respective areas. Since the response of the state came in form of denial of hunger deaths and the government refused to take note of the prevailing grim situation, the State Coordination Committee of the GSA decided to launch agitation programme to force the State to act. A Dharna was organized on 8^th and 9^th of September 2004 at Ranchi. People from the drought-affected areas joined the dharna and shared their woes with the media. The event was widely covered both by the print and electronic media. On 10^th August, about 3000 villagers from different districts, who came with their agricultural implements (Kudal, Gainta, Hansia, Khurpi, etc.), took out a procession on the streets of Ranchi and Gheraoed the Secretariat. A memorandum was prepared on this occasion and the people wanted to hand it over to the Chief Minister. Chief Minister declined to meet the delegation. It was immediately decided to go for an indefinite dharna and again gherao the Secretariat on 13^th August. Dharna continued on 11 and 12 September. A silent march was organized on 12^th evening to protest against the apathy of the government.

On 13^th of September more than 2000 villagers marched towards the Secretariat (Sachivalaya) and blocked the main gate for 4 hours and also jammed the main road. The Cabinet Secretary called a 5-member delegation team to fix appointment with the CM. They insisted on meeting with CM on 14^th but delegation refused to yield and demanded the meeting on the same day. Finally the administration succumbed and a 5-member delegation met the CM at his residence. The Chief Minister accepted all the 17 point demands of the GSA that included undertaking earth work on a massive scale in drought hit pockets, sourcing delivery of ICDS material from Self Help Groups (SHGs), universalising cooked Mid-day meal in all government and government-aided schools, passing of necessary govt. orders/notifications regarding people’s right to information and formation of a high-powered committee to monitor the implementation of drought-relief work with adequate participation of civil society organisations. Just a day after this gherao followed the announcements by the Chief Minister. However, now struggles continue to pressurise the government to act upon its own announcements.