PLIGHT OF ADIVASIS IN ORISSA
Dear Sir/Madam, Krishna Janmashtami Greetings from CEFS-New Delhi! During last one month, hundreds of poor Adivasis in Rayagada, Koraput and Kalahandi districts of Orissa have died due to “consumption of contaminated water and rotten food” and “hunger and severe food insecurity ”.On the basis of a study carried out in 100 villages of Orissa, Delhi-based Centre forEnvironment and Food security (CEFS) firmly believes that it is not the epidemic of cholera but cancer of corruption that is killing hundreds of poor Adivasis and crippling millions of them. Cholera is only a symptom and by-product, the root cause is the cancer of corruption which has colonized and crippled all the vital organs of Orissa administration. Abject poverty and chronic hunger manufactured by the self-serving bureaucracy of Orissa are the main reasons behind these tragic deaths of Adivasis. Most of these Adivasis live a life of semi-starvation which cripples their immune system and their bodies become vulnerable to a