Jharkhand: mystery shrouds death of 8 tribals

The mystery surrounding the deaths of eight tribals, including three infants, in Hindiyakala village of Chatra district on October 1, will probably never be solved conclusively, but it does illustrate that poor tribals in backward regions of the state rarely get to avail the benefits of various Government schemes.

In his report to the Chatra Deputy Commissioner, Civil Surgeon, R Prasad, has tentatively attributed the deaths to either malnutrition or food poisoning caused by “infected fish”. “Most of them were the poorest of the poor. Their frail bodies made it clear that they were malnourished,” said Prasad. “However, some of them (villagers) also told us that the victims died because they ate poisoned fish”.

All the deceased belonged to the backward Birhor tribe, who subsist well below the poverty line. At Hindiyakela, at least 39 families were entitled to Government schemes such as the Integrated Child Development and Antodaya schemes.

However, none of them had actually benefited from any of these schemes, claimed Balram, a social worker who is state advisor to the commissioner appointed by the SC under the Right to Food Campaign.