NHRC notice to Sundargarh DM on alleged starvation death

National Human Rights Commission today issued a notice to Sundargarh District Magistrate in Odisha over death of a tribal man allegedly due to starvation, asking the official to submit a report within four week.
Issuing the notice, the NHRC quoted media reports as saying that the District Administration was approached for help, but there was no response.
"The Commission has observed that the contents of the press report, if true, raised a serious issue of violation of human rights. A notice has been issued to the District Magistrate, Sundargarh, Odisha to submit a report in the matter within four weeks," an NHRC statement said.

The man, aged 65 years, was residing in Chupkadadar village under Tribanpur Gram Panchayat, District Sundargarh. He was facing abject poverty and suffering from geriatric disease.
"He was dependent on forest produce as his land was infertile. He had not been issued a BPL Card or Old Age Pension. Allegedly, he along with his wife had been approaching the administration for assistance but without any results," the statement said, quoting media reports.