Bhubaneswar, November 27: The Opposition - BJD and Congress have continued the protest and raised the issue of the recent deaths of three tribals due to the consumption of mango kernel gruel in Kandhamal district, in the Odisha Assembly on Wednesday.
An adjournment motion on Food Security and the alleged starvation deaths in Kandhamal district was moved by the Biju Janata Dal on Wednesday.
Answering the motion raised by BJD, the Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra rejected the allegations and clarified on the death of three persons. He said that the death in Mandipanka village of Kandhamal district is due to food poisoning.
The medical report also substantiated the fact of the incident, said Minister
He further stated that the government has taken all necessary measures to provide medical treatment to family members of the deceased persons.
The Minister informed the house that rice has been given to the beneficiaries in Madipanka village under the NFSA for month of July, August, and September. The department has directed to supply the rice in advance for month of October, November, and December.
The food minister also made clear that 3,26,33,097 members of 93,23,079 families have been enrolled under the NFSA while 10,03,719 members of 3,15,024 families are covered under the State Food Security Scheme. Around 80 percent of the state’s population is getting free rice under both NFSA and SFSS.
However, the opposition demanded the resignation of the Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare Minister alleging that the tribals died due to the incompetence in providing the free rice to the deceased families.
The opposition BJD and Congress leader termed the tragic deaths of tribals due to eating mango kernel a shameful incident for the state. They criticized the BJP leader who earlier claimed that mango kernel is a traditional food for the tribals.
It is pertinent to mention that 8 women from Mandipanka village were taken to hospital after complaining of vomiting and abdominal pain on October 30. They had reportedly consumed mango kernel gruel. Later three women succumbed to death while undergoing treatment.
