By IANS,
New Delhi : The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Friday sought a report from district magistrate of Odisha’s Sundargarh over the reported starvation death of an elderly man there in 2012.
A notice has been issued to the Sundargarh district magistrate seeking a report within four weeks.
The incident was reported in 2012.
“Reportedly, the man, aged 65 years, was residing in Chupkadadar village of Sundargarh. He was facing abject poverty and suffering from geriatric disease,” a statement from NHRC said.
According to the rights panel, the man was dependent on forest produce as his land was infertile. He had not been issued a BPL (below poverty line) card or an old age pension.
“Allegedly, he along with his wife had been approaching the administration for assistance but without any results,” it said, citing a media report was forwarded by a local human rights activist seeking intervention of the commission.