[Assam] Starvation death in Assam - AT

[Ram Sarangapani]

C'da,

>My question however was about WHAT IF  the powers that be had NOT
anticipated

If they had not anticipated it - it may be forgiveable to an extent as not
having foresight/intelligence. But what if they HAD anticipated but did not
do a darn thing? That would show them to be just callous - don't you think?

 >I cannot imagine, that in this day and age, a young mother has to
die of*starvation
* in Assam. Don't* >ANYBODY* care?


>Something is very seriously wrong here, wouldn't you think?

If this story is true, you are absolutely right, this is NOT what one would
expect in this day and age. That too in Assam - I thought this could never
happened in Assam - known for it vast agricultural produce.
The GOA was at best taken unawares, and at worst, no time to think about the
people who form the backbone of Assam's agriculture.

A sad state of affairs.

--Ram



On 12/1/06, Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net> wrote:
>
>  Ram:
>
>
> Don't belittle your thinking abilities without reason.
>
>
> You are suggesting all the right things.
>
>
> My question however was about WHAT IF  the powers that be had NOT
> anticipated
> this, in spite of the highly publicized drought and its likely
> ramifications five months ago and had NOT planned adequately, as is usually
> the case. There is a long history of the condition, as you must know.
>
>
> What then?
>
>
> I cannot imagine, that in this day and age, a young mother has to die of*starvation
> * in Assam. Don't* ANYBODY* care?
>
>
> Something is very seriously wrong here, wouldn't you think?
>
>
> I just hope the report was not accurate. That the cause of this young
> woman's death was not merely hunger, but a combination, with possibly some
> illness that was not treated or complicated with. Not that it would make the
> family's loss any less. But the mere thought of death by starvation in Assam
> is something unimaginable for me.
>
>
> c-da
>
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> At 11:11 AM -0600 12/1/06, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
>
> C'da,
>
>
>
> I am no big thinker. But, if I were calling the shots, I would, with my
> limited intelligence, have anticipated that droughts would be followed by
> hardships for the most vulnerable farmers in the society.
>
>
>
> 1) Would identify and declare affected areas as areas that need attention.
>
> 2) Set up food/financial/agricultural help centers in the affected areas
>
> 3) Farmers who have been directly affected (from areas identified)could
> then get assistance to tide them over. They wouldn't need to go to Manipur
> to search for a job.
>
> 4) Set up temporary employment avenues
>
> 5)The only proof from those seeking assistance would be that they live in
> the affected areas.
>
>
>
> and
>
> 6) For the long term, set up water resources for irrigation - get the
> engineers to think about that.
>
>
>
> Sounds corny? But thats exactly what I would attempt. If I were wrong, at
> least, my heart would have been in the right place. :)
>
>
>
> --Ram
>
>
>
>
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>
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> On 12/1/06,* Chan Mahanta* <cmahanta at charter.net> wrote:
>
> >Its a darn shame that there is no safety net for people in such
> situations, and is the GOA should take full responsibility for this.
>
>
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>
>
>
> *** How will you MAKE them Ram ?
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> At 9:33 AM -0600 12/1/06, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
>
> C'da,
>
>
>
> This is indeed tragic. The report says these areas have been affected by
> drought. The GOA obviously (should have) expected something like this.
> Wondering if they took any measures at all to prevent the situation to lapse
> to this level.
>
>
>
> I am little shocked - this is the first time I am hearing of starvation
> deaths - it was always someplace else, Maharastra, MP etc.
>
> Its a darn shame that there is no safety net for people in such
> situations, and is the GOA should take full responsibility for this.
>
>
>
> --Ram
>
>
>
> On 12/1/06,* Chan Mahanta* <cmahanta at charter.net> wrote:
>
> Tragically, this is just the first report Ram!
>
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>
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> MM warned us of what is coming right here. Let us brace ourselves.
>
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> c-da
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> At 9:12 AM -0600 12/1/06, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
>
> This is really sad news. Is this becoming more common in Assam these days?
>
>
>
>
>
> Woman dies of malnutrition
> By A Staff Reporter
>  GUWAHATI, Nov 30 - A woman Tilomoni Saikia (28), died of malnutrition
> caused by partial starvation on November 28 at the No 2 Joypukhurigaon under
> the Simanta Gaon Panchyat of Gomariguri Development Block in Golaghat
> district. Disclosing this, general secretary of the Krishak Mukti Sangram
> Samiti, Akhil Gogoi said quoting her neighbours, Tilomoni, wife of Arun Boro
> and a mother of three children with the youngest being three months old, was
> not having full meals for the past several weeks. She was having only one
> meal in a day for quite a long time. Besides, she had to breast feed her
> youngest child.
>
> As the family was living in a drought-affected area, its only adult male
> member Arun Boro had to leave for Manipur in search of a job.
>
>
> Similarly, the threat of starvation is looming large on the people of the
> villages like Dishalpani, Kadamguri etc. in the area. The farmers of these
> villages are now selling out their bullocks and cattle and setting out in
> search of jobs as wage earners, said Gogoi, adding, Government relief
> materials are yet to reach these villages.
>
>
>
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