NHRC notice to UP onmalnutrition deaths

Tribune News Service

Lucknow, February 19

Taking suo moto cognizance of media reports on deaths due to malnutrition in Basti, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) today sent a notice to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary, seeking a detailed report in the matter, including data pertaining to effective implementation social welfare schemes in the district, specifically referring to the family mentioned in the news report.

According to media reports, during the past six years a family residing in Ojhaganj village of Harraiya tehsil of Basti has lost four members reportedly due to malnutrition. Apparently, the head of the family has requested the authorities to allow him end his life as he has been without work for the past three months. Having no source of income to procure food for himself and his surviving daughter has caused him extreme physical and mental suffering.

The NHRC has observed that if the contents of the news report are true, it raises serious questions on human rights violations owing to lack of nutritional diet, adequate medicare and means of livelihood.

The commission has also sought to know the health status of the only surviving child of Harishchandra and steps taken by the state to ensure source of income for him.

“Such incidents are happening in spite of a large number of the flagship programmes,” the NHRC pointed out.