India: Despite three starvation deaths in the Vishambhar family and one in the Kanhaiya family, 400 weaver families mostly Dalits, in village Shankarpur of district Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh continue to face hunger and starvation

One woman and two of her children died in village Shankarpur, Varanasi, due to starvation and hunger related diseases. Mrs. Jigna Devi Vishambhar died on 16th of April, 2005, her 16 years old daughter named Soni died on 21st of April, and on 21st of May the two-month old son died. The family was without any source of income, since Mr. Vishambhar lost his job as a weaver. Another weaver Mr. Kanhaiya died on 18th of September 2005 also due to starvation. However, the Vishambhar and Kanhaiya families were not identified as beneficiaries of subsidised food grains from the state social programmes. This is the plight faced by 400 other weaver families in village Shankarpur, of district Varanasi. Despite of a previous FIAN action on the case, the Vishambhar and other weaver families do not have the AAY (Anthyodaya Anna Yojana Scheme) card, continue to be excluded from the social programmes, face starvation and are reduced to begging for food.

An action on the situation of the weavers is urgently needed to fulfil the right to food of the Vishambhar and Kanhaiya family and 400 weaver families of village Shankarpur, facing hunger and starvation, and to prevent further starvation deaths. Please write polite letters to the Prime Minister of India, requesting him to meet the obligations under the human right to food and guarantee access to food to the weaver families of Shankarpur in district Varanasi.