Another starvation death alleged

By Our Correspondent

MAHBUBNAGAR, MAY 18. Another alleged starvation death was reported occurred in Edula village of Gopalpet mandal yesterday leading to further controversy surrounding the fall-out of severe drought situation, including suicides by farmers, in Mahbubnagar district.

The body of 60-year-old Yellamma was still lying outside the thatched roof of her neighbour's house in the village. People of the area were awaiting the arrival of her only son who migrated to Maharashtra in search of livelihood. It was a pathetic scene with Masanna, a frail 70- year-old man, standing beside his wife.

According to villagers, the couple, was ekeing out a living by stitching leaf plates, selling neem fruits and custard apples until old age made them too weak to work. They survived on the charity of villagers. Situation worsened when their only son, Swamy, went to Maharashtra about six months ago in search of work.

The neighbours maintained that the death of Yellamma was the cumulative result of stark poverty though Masanna was a beneficiary under the old age pension scheme. Masanna admitted that he had received a pension of Rs.225, a tri-monthly payment three times till now. But he said Rs. 75 a month to support two persons was not sufficient. ``When I have pension money there is no stock in the fair price shop and when ration is there, I have no money,'' he said haltingly. They had been staying under a temporary thatched roof of their neighbours after their hut collapsed two years ago.

Equally pathetic was the scene in Srirangapur village of Pebbair mandal, where two old women - Boya Rangamma and Golla Chandramma - allegedly died of hunger last week. Another old woman, Gumadam Sayamma, died in Pathapalli village of the same mandal. She is believed to have starved herself in order to feed her ten- year- old granddaughter whose parents migrated to Nellore district in search of work.

In all these cases recurring drought seems to be the main cause, forcing able bodied men and women to migrate for work leaving the old and infirm to fend for themselves.

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Section  : Southern States
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