INDIA: Five-year-old Musahar boy may die from starvation in Raitara of Pindra village in Varanasi in the coming days

Food Justice July 17, 2007 No comments

Mulayam, aged 5 years is the son of Ms. Reshma Musahar and Mr. Sajeevan. They live in Raitara Musahar ghetto of Pindra village in Varanasi district of Uttar Pradesh. At the age of 5, Mulayam weighs only 10 kilos. Mulayam suffers from Grade III malnutrition which if not treated immediately is fatal. Mulayam has a sister and his mother is pregnant. Read more about INDIA: Five-year-old Musahar boy may die from starvation in Raitara of Pindra village in Varanasi in the coming days …

INDIA: Deaths from starvation imminent in Alhadadpur village in Amebdkar Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh

Food Justice April 13, 2007 No comments

According to the information received, several families in Alhadapur village were engaged in the weaving industry. However owing to the influx of cheap alternatives from outside the country and various other factors like poor management of the industry by the private entrepreneurs and lack of government support, the weaving industry in Uttar Pradesh deteriorated. This terminated the source of income of several thousand families in the state. Most of these families are staying in villages and Alhadapur is one such village. Read more about INDIA: Deaths from starvation imminent in Alhadadpur village in Amebdkar Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh …

INDIA: 18 Musahar families are dying of starvation due to negligence of district administration in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

Food Justice April 4, 2007 No comments

The Musahar community, in Varanasi district, is socially and economically one of the most marginalized communities in India and they are poorest amongst poor. The Musahar community falls under the category of the Scheduled Caste. Although the practice of untouchability is a crime in Indian law the Musahar community is not allowed to enjoy ordinary social life with the mainstream society and to share common amenities in the village. Read more about INDIA: 18 Musahar families are dying of starvation due to negligence of district administration in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh …

INDIA: Corruption causes starvation in Musahar community in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

Food Justice April 2, 2007 No comments

The Musahar community, in Varanasi district, is socially and economically one of the most marginalized communities in India. The Musahar community falls under the category of Scheduled Caste. Although the practice of untouchability is a crime in Indian law the Musahar community is not allowed to enjoy social life with the mainstream society and to share common amenities in the village. Read more about INDIA: Corruption causes starvation in Musahar community in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh …

PAKISTAN: About 500,000 fishermen will be jobless due to the government’s unlawful long-term lease of two Islands to a company

Food Justice January 29, 2007 No comments

The AHRC was informed that the Federal Government of Pakistan has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that stated a 99-year lease on twin Islands namely Bhudal and Bhuddo located in Karachi city, Sindh province to Dubai based Emaar Properties PJSC Company in September 2006. The company has a project to rename the islands Diamond Bar City and construct high-rises, residential resorts, hotels, casinos and a 1.5 Kilometer bridge connecting the islands to Karachi city over the next 13 years at a total cost of US$ 43.135 billion. After the MOU, the said company reportedly demolished some 1,000 fishermen’s huts with the help of the police and the army in October 2006. It is alleged that 35 villagers were arrested and a 5-year-old boy was killed during the demolition. Read more about PAKISTAN: About 500,000 fishermen will be jobless due to the government’s unlawful long-term lease of two Islands to a company …

INDIA: Government sleeps over 386 confirmed cases of Fluorosis in Sonebhadra district of Uttar Pradesh state

Food Justice January 26, 2007 No comments

The Gram Swarajya Samithi conducted a survey in nine villages located in Chopan, Dudhi and Myorpur blocks and identified the cases mentioned above. There are are concerns that at least 36,000 persons will soon become handicapped in the very near future if nothing is done to improve the situation. On an earlier initiative by the Samithi, scientists from the Indian Council for Medical Research lead by Dr. Chandra Kumar Dolla and Dr. Surendra Kumar took samples of water from the tube-wells of the region for detailed tests between 20 and 24 July 2004. Though the results of the tests were not made available after several requests by the Samithi, they were informed that the tests conducted by the scientists revealed that the fluoride content in the water samples showed at levels at least five to six times the normal values. Read more about INDIA: Government sleeps over 386 confirmed cases of Fluorosis in Sonebhadra district of Uttar Pradesh state …

INDIA: The ‘blame game’ continues between state officials and local authorities over the starvation deaths of 8 persons

Food Justice September 25, 2006 No comments

The victims; Moral Hembram, Bidoy Hembram, Mongla Mardi, Som Besra, Sundari Hembram, Malati Kisku, Dharni Murmu and Ghasirena Tudu; were all members of the so-called “backward classes” of caste-conscious India. Read more about INDIA: The ‘blame game’ continues between state officials and local authorities over the starvation deaths of 8 persons …

INDIA: Children dying of starvation due to uninterested government officials

Food Justice July 28, 2006 No comments

Nine-month-old Seema Musahar died this morning, July 28 in Belwa village, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh after desperate attempts of her mother, 35-year-old Laxmi Musahar to get help for her infant at the local health centre and other places. As the AHRC mentioned in a statement issued yesterday July 27 (AS-180-2006), Laxmi had to pawn her two saris to a neighbour to get some money with which to take her child to get treatment, but still this was not enough to save her. Read more about INDIA: Children dying of starvation due to uninterested government officials …

PAKISTAN: Government neglect in drought-affected region leaves thousands malnourished in Tharparkar District

Food Justice May 25, 2006 No comments

The current drought in Tharparkar has left many villagers suffering from malnutrition and other hunger-related illnesses. The villagers rely on the consumption of milk from livestock as their primary source of food but the drought has killed off a larger number of animals, and milk production has severely dwindled. Livestock comprises of almost 80 percent of the district’s economy, and the shortage of animals has also significantly decreased the villagers’ purchasing power. Thus, the victims can neither rely on animal husbandry and farming in the village as a source of food, nor can they afford to buy food in the markets. Potable water also does not exist in the area anymore as most of the ground wells have gone dry. This has increased the incidence of malnutrition and the young, elderly and pregnant being more susceptible. Read more about PAKISTAN: Government neglect in drought-affected region leaves thousands malnourished in Tharparkar District …

AUSTRALIA: Asylum seekers denied the right to health

Food Justice May 11, 2006 No comments

The right to health is a fundamental human right, however thousands of asylum seekers fleeing persecution in their homelands and seeking asylum in Australia are denied the right to adequate medical facilities by the Australian Government. Under AustraliaÂ¡Â¦s harsh refugee policy, thousands of asylum seekers are forced to live in the community on a Bridging Visa E (BVE) whilst they await the outcome of their Protection Visa Application, a visa that requires the determination of the refugee status of the applicant under section 36 of the Migration Act 1958. Bridging Visa EÂ¡Â¦s deny asylum seekers the right to work, free or subsidised Government-sponsored medical services (Medicare), and access to income. As a result of this, when an asylum seekers falls ill, they have neither the financial means to seek medical treatment or access to the countryÂ¡Â¦s Medicare services. This is resulting in many asylum seekers, who are suffering from health related illnesses, being forced to suffer in silence. Read more about AUSTRALIA: Asylum seekers denied the right to health …