Maharashtra Ordered By High Court

Ref No. VJAS/PIL-HC/Kolam Deaths/175/2007, March 14, 2007
PRESS NOTE – URGENTPIL ON STARVATION & MALNUTRITION DEATHS OF KOLAM TRIBALS :

HIGH-COURT ORDERS STATE GOVERNMENT TO HOLD URGENT MEETING FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF ACTION TAKEN REPORT FOR THE BENEFIT OF POOR TRIBALS FACING STARVATION & MALNUTRITION DEATHS IN YAVATMAL DISTRICT OF VIDARBHA REGION.

NAGPUR, DATED 14th March, 2007

Nagpur Bench of Mumbai High-Court has ordered the State Government to direct Amravati Divisional Commissioner to hold urgent meeting 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, which 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 for protection of fundamental rights of Food, Shelter, Education, Health and Drinking Water to be made available to the tribals.

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 tribal families who all 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.

Today when the matter come up for hearing the Petitioner's Counsel Adv. Firdos Mirza, Adv. Vinod Tiwari and Adv. Ajay Somani pointed out various shortcomings in the implementation of various schemes for the tribals.

After hearing both the sides, High-Court ordered State Government to direct Divisional Commissioner at Amravati to hold urgent meeting of all officials concerned along with the Petitioner and his Counsels in the matter of implementation of the Action Taken Report for the welfare of the poor tribal families residing in the Nine tribal Talukas of Yavatmal District.

The Minutes of the Meeting need to be submitted within 10 days of the Order and next date of hearing has been fixed for 29th March 2007, the High-Court Ordered.

Adivasi father and Son Suicide Pact

Western Vidarbha :

1. SHYAMRAO CHANDRABHAN KINAKE VILLAGE- UMARI-YAVATMAL
2. VINOD SHAYRAO KINAKE-VILLAGE-UMARI-YAVATMAL
Shyam and Vinod were a adivasi father and son duo.
Huge debt, healthcare costs and agrarian distress are assumed to be behind the tribal father and son suicide pacts.
The Divisional Commissioner in charge of Relief, Shri Sudhir Goyal is reported to be shedding crocodile tears and giving interviews to media - "My heart goes out for those who ended their lives out of acute frustration and for their bereaved families even as I am worried about those caught in the web of a flawed system".
The Finance Minister Shri Chidambaram and Shri Sharad Pawar of Central Congress government, have no time to even meet representatives of suicidal and indebted farmers with no hope.
Congress Government seems more keen on implementing Farm Exit Policy for Vidarbha farmers rather than the announced Prime Minister package.
Kolam Tribal deaths and Action Taken Reports are being monitored by Nagpur Bench of Maharashtra High Court.