IRAC has taken serious note of media reports that about 8,000 tribals in Garhwa district, Jharkhand, have been surviving by eating wild roots for the last three months due to denial of ration. These include people belonging to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). As per media reports, these tribals were starving due to inaction by the authorities to provide ration under the Public Distribution System (PDS) as well as under a free rice scheme for primitive tribal groups (PTG) called “PTG Dakia Yojana” in Jharkhand.
The first report dated 4th October 2021 by Prabhat Khabar stated that 8,000 beneficiaries belonging to PVTGs have not received free food ration for the last three months in 15 blocks including Ranka block in Garhwa district of Jharkhand. The news report is available online at https://www.prabhatkhabar.com/state/jharkhand/garhwa/jharkhand-news-8000-beneficiaries-of-primitive-tribal-family-are-not-getting-rice-2-lakh-50-thousand-poor-beneficiaries-of-garhwa-also-have-hanging-ration-smj
Further, News18 Hindi news channel in a report dated 19 October 2021, it is stated that the tribal families under Siroi Kalan Panchayat in Ranka Block in Garhwa district of Jharkhand have not received ration for the last three months before the Dussehra 2021. As a result they are starving and surviving on roots available in the forest. The report is available online at https://hindi.news18.com/news/jharkhand/garhwa-gunahgaar-kaun-3-mahine-se-nahi-mila-ration-kand-mool-khaane-ko-majboor-adivasi-parivaar-nodmk3-3804689.html
According to IRAC, starvation of tribals during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the indifferent attitude of the State Government is a gross human rights violation.
IRAC calls upon the State Government of Jharkhand to immediately resume the supply of PDS rations to the affected habitations.