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Journalism of Courage
Cuttack, Nov 21: The Orissa High Court has directed the state government to inquire into allegations of starvation deaths in a village in Bolangir district and submit a report to the court within 15 days.
The court, while admitting a letter from Independent MLA of the Orissa Assembly Balgopal Mishra as a public interest writ petition, yesterday issued notice both to the state and Central governments.
Mishra had alleged that nine persons had died of hunger in Badatika village under Agalpur block, while thousands had fled the area due to the severe drought stalking the district.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice S N Phukan and Justice Arijit Pasayat directed that a committee, comprising the state’s special relief commissioner, revenue divisional commissioner (northern division) and director of health services, should visit Badatika village and submit a report within a fortnight.
The committee should ensure that immediate measures were initiated to prevent starvation deaths in the area, the courtsaid.
It also directed the Centre to depute a team to the area within 15 days and submit a report to the court and, if necessary, take urgent remedial measures without awaiting further instructions.
The court further instructed the collectors of Bolangir and Subarnapur districts to provide relief to the affected persons within a week.
It directed the committee to visit other places where such deaths had occurred.
The counsel for the petitioner, Sisir Das submitted that both the state and Central governments had failed to combat the unprecedented drought in the region resulting in starvation deaths, migration and sale of children.
