New Delhi, Oct 23: Starvation and grass eating habits have been identified as the main reasons by an independent organisation for the death of 20 persons including 12 children in Rajasthan in a span of one month. While Centre has sent a team to probe the deaths, an enquiry done by a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), People's Union of Civil Liberties (PUCI) reveals chronic hunger and deprivation amongst Sahariyas tribe in Rajasthan at a time when rainfall has been 30 per cent of annual average. The report prepared in alliance with Sankalp and Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samiti and submitted to the state Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said the food for work programmes and public distribution system is dysfunctional in the region. It said the issue is not limited to deaths but the means of survival in the villages of Mamoni, Gangapur Sheharana, Rajpura, Betha, Lal Kankri, Bhanwagarh, Karwari Kalan and Hatiyadeh in Baran district. PUCI team found that people is these villages were consuming 'sama' (wild grass seeds) as they hardly had any foodgrains with them and now even grass has dried up.


People are also boiling 'phang' (a wild green vegetation) and eating its leaves as they have nothing else to consume. Others were seen eating meat of dead sheep on account of which many fell ill.


Only a lucky few got two chapaties to eat every two days while the rest did not have more than half kg flour which they boiled to make 'lapsi' and ate with one 'vatki' of cooked or boiled water.



Bureau Report