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On receipt of the said letter, this Court directed the same to be treated as a writ petition and it was registered as such.

Another writ petition being Writ Petition (Civil) No. 1081 of 1987 has been filed by the Indian People's Front. This writ petition not only relates to the misery of the people of Kalahandi, but also of the people of another district, namely, the district of Koraput. In this writ petition, it has been alleged that the starvation deaths of the inhabitants of the districts of Koraput and Kalahandi are due to utter negligence and callousness of the adminis- tration and the Government of Orissa. It is alleged that the starvation deaths, drought diseases and famine have been the continuing phenomena in the said two districts since 1985. The Government of Orissa has been accused of utter failure to protect the lives of the people of the two districts. The State of Orissa appeared in both these writ peti- tions and opposed the same by filing counter-affidavits denying the allegations of the petitioners. The State of Orissa filed two statements one dated October 20, 1986 consisting of 160 pages and the other dated December 1, 1986 consisting of 181 pages. In these statements, it has been alleged by the State of Orissa that the State Government has implemented the social welfare measures in the district of Kalahandi.

The learned District Judge has since submitted his report which runs into 36 1 pages. The petitioners are not at all satisfied with the said report of the learned Dis- trict Judge. They have challenged the correctness of facts found by him, particularly with regard to the question of starvation deaths. It has been stated by the learned Dis- trict Judge that there was hardly any case of starvation death; on the other hand, there has been implementation by the Government of the social welfare measures. We do not think it necessary to consider the report of the learned District Judge. It is agreed by the parties including Shri Pattnayak, the petitioner No. 1 in Writ Petition No. 12847 of 1985, who has appeared before us in person, that some steps should be taken for the purpose of alleviating the miseries and sorrows of the poor inhabitants of both the said districts. It is not disputed that the people of the districts of Kalahandi and Koraput are very poor and most of them have been living below the poverty line. Although the learned District Judge's report is against the alleged starvation deaths, we are of the view that the happening of one or two cases of starvation deaths cannot altogether be ruled out. Shri Pattnayak laid much emphasis in his submissions on the duty of the Government to take immediate steps to prevent starvation deaths. He has submitted before us some suggestions in writing, So far as prevention of starvation deaths is concerned, his suggestion are inter alia that the Government should constitute a 11- Member Committee, of which the majority should be social workers, for the purpose of supervising matters arising out of drought and other natural calamities. This committee may be called the Kalahandi Relief Implementation Committee (KRIC). The nonofficial members should not be members of any political party and should belong to well-known organisa- tions of social work, such as, Sarvodaya Gandhi Peace Foun- dation and registered voluntary agen-

In the circumstances, we direct the Government of Orissa that it shall, within a month from date, nominate the names of at least five persons belonging to the recognised volun- tary organisations like Sarvodaya Gandhi Peace Foundation, Ramakrishna Mission, Bharat Sewa Sangha and registered voluntary agencies as members of the said Natural Calamities Committee of the district. We also accept the suggestion of Shri Pattnayak that the Committee shall hold at least one meeting every two months. The function of the Committee will not be confined only to the cases of starvation deaths, but it shall be responsible for looking after the welfare of the people of the district. We are given to understand that there is also such a dis- trict-level Natural Calamities committee in the district of Koraput. We make it clear that the Government will also nominate at least five such persons belonging to recognised voluntary organisations within a month from today and the Committee will also perform the same functions. So far as the district of Kalahandi is concerned, it has been urged by the learned Advocate General that the Govern- ment of Orissa has already undertaken appropriate measures for mitigating the miseries of the people of that district. The steps which have been taken by the Government may be stated in brief. The State Government has allotted a sum of Rs.8054 lakhs for Kalahandi during the Sixth Plan. The State Government is fully aware of the situation in Kalahandi and constant vigilance is maintained under the direct supervi- sion of the Chief Minister to redress the distress of the people. The labour intensive work has been undertaken by the government on a massive scale to provide employment opportu- nity to the people of the district of Kalahandi. During the year 1984-85, in areas of acute distress, free feeding pro- gramme has been undertaken on a massive scale. During 1987- 88 the coverage under the Normal Feeding Programme was 2,12,800 persons. Besides, 1,20,000 persons were also cov- ered under the Emergency Drought Feeding Programme covering all the drought affected areas of the district. In 128 Gram Panchayats where crop damage was more than 50%, 1,20,000 persons were covered under the Emergency Feeding Programme during 1987-88. During the current year, preliminary survey indicated that crop damage was likely to occur in 74 Gram Panchayats and, accordingly, 40,000 persons from the said affected areas have been covered under the Emergency Feeding Programme in addition to the Normal Feeding Programme for 2,12,800 persons. Under the Area Development Approach Pro- gramme for Total Backwardness Scheme covering certain blocks, about 20,000 persons are being fed under the Feeding Programme. According to the Government, 2,72,000 persons are being covered by the Feeding Programme in Kalahandi district in 1988.

The minimum purchase price for paddy is fixed by the Government of India. Adequate funds are provided to the purchasing agents to purchase the surplus paddy at the rates prescribed by the Government. State Government also ensures that unscrupulous traders do not coerce the farmers to sell paddy at a distress price.

Assistance to agriculturists is also being given by the Government. Due to drought conditions, the Kharif crop was damaged in some areas of Kalahandi district in 1987-88. To enable cultivators to undertake resowing, Government is stated to have supplied seeds free of cost in mini-bags. The measures which have been taken and are being taken, as stated in the written note submitted by the learned Advocate General, have been briefly mentioned. There is no reason not to accept the statements made on behalf of the State of Orissa that the measures, stated above, are being taken for the purpose of mitigating hunger, poverty, starvation deaths, etc. of the people of Kalahandi. If such measures are taken, there can be no doubt that it will alleviate to a great extent the miseries of the people of Kalahandi. Such measures are also being taken in respect of the district of Koraput. The Natural Calamities Committee shall also keep a watch over the working of the social welfare measures which are being taken and may be taken in future. Shri Pattnayak also does not dispute that if such measures are continued to be taken, it will be a great relief to the people of Kalahandi and Koraput. We hope and trust that in view of the prompt action that has been taken by the Government, soon the miseries of the people of these two districts will be over.