19 March 2007 - HC Orders to Amaravati DC

Ref No. VJAS/PIL-HC/Kolam Deaths/175/2007, March 19, 2007

PRESS NOTE – URGENT
PIL ON STARVATION & MALNUTRITION DEATHS OF KOLAM TRIBALS :
HIGH-COURT ORDERS IN PIL :
STATE GOVERNMENT TO HOLD URGENT MEETING ON TOMORROW – 20TH MARCH, 2007 FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF ACTION TAKEN REPORT FOR THE BENEFIT OF POOR TRIBALS FACING STARVATION & MALNUTRITION DEATHS IN YAVATMAL DISTRICT OF VIDARBHA REGION.

NAGPUR, DATED 19th March, Monday

Consequent upon the Nagpur Bench of Mumbai High-Court orders the State Government has now finally directed to Amravati Divisional Commissioner to hold urgent meeting on 20 th March, 2007 at Nagpur Divisional Commissionerate, along with the PIL Petitioner Vidarbha JanAndolan Samiti President Shri Kishore Tiwari & all concerned officials of the State Government to implement the Action Taken Report on the Kolam Tribals Starvation & Malnutrition Deaths in Yavatmal District of Vidarbha Region. The tribal belt of Yavatmal District is most affected due to non implementation of various schemes for the benefit of poor tribal families residing in the 710 tribal villages of Nine Talukas of Yavatmal District and the poor tribals are deprived of fundamental rights of Food, Shelter, Education, Health and Drinking Water even after the directions of Hon'ble High-Court.



It may be recalled that, on 14 th March, 2007, the Division Bench of the High-Court at Nagpur consisting of Justice Shri Ambadas H. Joshi and Justice Shri R.C. Chavan while hearing the Public Interest Writ Petition filed by Vidarbha JanAndolan Samiti President Shri Kishore Tiwari in the matter of infringement of fundamental rights to Live & Life of the poor tribal families in the Tribal Belt of Yavatmal District, passed the above order. The High-Court is seriously concerned with the facts that, the tribal families are deprived of basic means of life such as food, shelter, education, health & drinking water due to the apathy of the State Government in implementation the various welfare schemes, even after the report from the High Power Committee appointed by the High-Court in the PIL.

It may be recalled that the PIL Writ Petition was filed way back in May 2003 when the 52 Kolam Tribals died of starvation in Yavatmal District. The High-Court Division Bench at Nagpur had appointed various committees from time to time during the period of last 3 ½ years and finally had directed the State Government to submit Action Taken Report.

As per the orders of the High-Court, the Minutes of the Meeting will have to be submitted within 10 days and next date of hearing has been fixed for 29 th March 2007.