Uproar in Odisha Assembly over alleged starvation death

The Odisha Assembly on Thursday witnessed repeated adjournments, following ruckus created by the opposition Congress after a 55-year-old woman allegedly died of starvation in drought-hit Balangir district.

The issue was raised by the Leader of the Opposition, Narasingh Mishra of Congress, as soon as the zero hour began before noon.

“We demand a statement from the revenue and disaster management minister on the starvation death of a woman in drought hit Balangir district,” Mishra said.

Stating that right to life is a fundamental right, Mishra alleged that Sua Dei of Gutupalli village under Balangir block of the district died of starvation on November 8. The woman was alone in her house as other members of the family had migrated to other state in search of work due to an acute drought condition in Balangir district, he said. “I came to know about the incident from media reports and immediately sent a person to verify the news. I found that it was true and the woman died due to lack of food. Even a grain was not found in her house,” Mishra said.