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Patna,(BiharTimes): Whether Bihar has really developed in the last four years or not is a debateable issue; but what is not controversial is that the state witnessed two devastating floods in the first two years (2007 and 2008) and two acute droughts in the last two (2009 and 2010).

This, according to Rupesh, the advisor on Right to Food appointed by the Supreme Court, has led to hundreds of starvation deaths in the last couple of years––a scene never witnessed in the recent past.

With monsoon already three weeks late at least five starvation deaths have been reported from two districts––one of them incidentally is the chief minister’s home district.

A woman and her infant died in Jhanwatola village in Nalanda, Nitish Kumar’s home district last Wednesday. What is more tragic is that the deceased, Phulmati Devi, belonged to a Maha Dalit caste. She herself was a farm labourer.

Reports said that despite being yellow-card holders, her family in the village were out of work for months and were not provided rations.

Three people have died in Jehanabad district due to acute hunger in the last three days. The deceased were identified as Kunti Devi, Charittar Dom, and Janardan Mahto. Once again two of them were from Maha Dalit castes, and one to the Extreme Backward Caste (EBC). All three were residents of Rattubigha Tola, which comes under Ghosi block.

Though the officials denied that the three had died of starvation, the villagers have stated that the deceased, despite holding BPL and Antoday Yojana cards, did not receive rations on time.

In spite of tall claims by the state government the truth is that the public distribution system in Bihar has, of late, virtually collapsed and there is rampant corruption in the government department.

Jehanabad and Nalanda are in the vicinity of Patna, therefore, the starvation deaths could be reported easily, while such deaths in the far-off districts take much longer time to reach the state capital––or they never reach.

Now villagers are repeatedly asking the question as to why has the nature been so angry towards Bihar?

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