The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : TDP alleges starvation deaths in Medak

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 20, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

TDP alleges starvation deaths in Medak

By N. Rahul

MIRDODDI (MEDAK DT.), SEPT. 19. The third day death ceremony of Chinagala Peda Rajaiah (60) at this village today was a modest affair. His wife, son and a couple of other children cooked whatever rice was available and completed the rituals themselves.

Rajaiah is said to have died of starvation. The villagers are without work. Many youths have migrated to Hyderabad in search of work. So has Rajaiah's son. Rajaiah and his wife had to fend for themselves.

In nearby Bhoompalli village, Chakali Sattaiah (60) also died a few days ago, reportedly of malnutrition. The washerman and his wife, Balavva, used to beg since he was bedridden a year ago. The villagers even pooled money to perform the last rites.

TDP team's visit

These deaths came to light during a visit to some villages of Mirdoddi mandal by a Telugu Desam Party (TDP) delegation led by the former Home Minister, T. Devender Goud. It was reported that 26 aged men have died of starvation in the mandal in the last four months following the stoppage of the food-for-work (FFW) rice supply.

The 10-kg-rice-a-family scheme for the aged has been discontinued.

Five persons have died in Mirdoddi, four in Bhoompalli and one in Kasulabad, the three villages visited by the TDP delegation.

For Mirdoddi, with a population of 11,000, the moratorium on the recovery of loans has not helped. A farmer, Balanarsu, said "shaukars'' (moneylenders) had stopped extending credit. The youths migrated to the city, leaving behind the aged.

Weavers in distress

Alongside starvation deaths, there were suicides by handloom weavers in the adjoining Dubbaka mandal. About 50 weavers, it is said, have committed suicide in Dubbaka village following the closure of over 300 handlooms due to the increase in the price of yarn in the last three to four years.

Later, Mr. Devender Goud told reporters that the situation was alarming in the villages.

He said the TDP Government had provided 10 kg. rice to 16 lakh old-aged who could not work and given drought pension at the rate of Rs. 50 to another four lakh people.

The new Government had made an election promise to enhance the pension to Rs. 225 a month but did not even release the amount at the old rate.

The TDP delegation included the Rajya Sabha member, C. Ramachandraiah, the former

Ministers — Thummala Nageswara Rao and E. Peddi Reddy — and MLA, S. Maruthi.

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