Parents ‘apologise’ for saying girl died of hunger in Bokaro village

Ranchi/Bokaro: Parents of Meena Kumari, a 17-year-old disabled girl from Tikahara village in Gomia block of Bokaro who allegedly died of hunger and ill health on Wednesday, have reportedly “apologised” for stating before activists that their daughter died of starvation. “My daughter was disabled and she was ill. In a hurry, I told a social worker that she died of hunger, for which I apologise,” the letter said.
On Wednesday, Tikahara gram panchayat mukhiya Hemanti Devi and panchayat samiti member Parvati Devi asked the girl’s parents — Jeetan Marandi and Shanti Devi — to put their thumb impressions on a letter addressed to the block development officer stating they apologise for saying that their daughter died of hunger. The letter was countersigned by the two panchayat members.
Circle officer Om Prakash Pandey said the administration is preparing to lodge an FIR against Jitendra Marandi, the neighbour of the disabled girl, for spreading rumours of hunger death. “The father of the girl worked in Mandu circle as a labourer, but he was at home for the last few days due to the lockdown. However, they had enough to eat,” he said.
Sources in the village said the family does not have a ration card and was reportedly going hungry for the past few days. The matter was reported to the NGO Right to Food’s Jharkhand unit, on Wednesday morning and some arrangements were made to provide immediate relief, but the girl died later in the day.
Adivasi Moolvasi Manch member Anil Hansda of Tikahara village, who visited the family, said the girl was disabled and was ill for the last few days. He said, “The poor family could not get her treated due and they also could not take her to a hospital or a doctor because of the lockdown.” He added that the family has some foodgrains in stock, but the girl was unable to eat because of her ill health.
Asked if the Mukhya Mantri Daal Bhaat Yojna, which provides cooked food to the poor for Rs 5, is not operational in the area, Hansda said the scheme started only on Wednesday. “There was some dispute about selecting the local sakhi mandal. This was resolved and the distribution of cooked food started on Wednesday,” he said.