Hamirpur, May 18
Though the Himachal Pradesh Government claims that it is self-sufficient in the field of foodgrains and no one goes to sleep without taking food, a family of a mother and daughter in Thaan village of Hamirpur district is facing starvation-like situation. Another daughter, Kanta Devi (38), died allegedly due to hunger last week. She had eaten a wild fruit from a nearby forest following which she fell ill and died. She had consumed the fruit as no food was available at her house.

Gayatri Devi and her daughter Bimla rely upon relatives and neighbours for foodgrains.

During a tour of the village today, this reporter found Gayatri Devi washing clothes and waiting for someone to extend help. She has about five kanals of land, but barren.

Her son Vipan Kumar had disposed of his share of land at a throwaway price. The new landowner had acquired the prime land of the family forcing the mother and daughter to depend on the barren land.

The family has produced only 20 kg of wheat from the land, which was sown during the last rabi season. They have no other means of earning. The state government gives a pension of Rs 200 per month to Gayatri Devi, but it is too less to feed two persons.

The panchayat pradhan says that Bimla (36) is mentally retarded. She mainly depends on her mother for her needs.

The husband of Gayatri Devi had died about 15 years ago. He was a truck driver.

Mr Suresh Kumar, Principal of DAV School, Kangoo, and a neighbour of Gayatri Devi, says that starvation led to the death of Kanta Devi.