The State Assembly witnessed pandemonium on Saturday over the death of six persons in tribals-dominated Kashipur block of Rayagada district due to suspected diarrhoea.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, the Congress members sought a statement in this regard from Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Later, they created uproar in the House as Speaker Bikram Keshari Arukha refused to give ruling immediately on the issue.
The Speaker had to adjourn the proceedings twice for 10 minutes and then for 15 minutes.
Later, the Speaker asked Parliamentary Affairs Minister Niranjan Pujari to make a statement in the Assembly on the issue on Monday.
Congress Legislature Party Leader Narasingha Mishra said the State Government is number one in food distribution under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in the country, but many people of Kashipur block are still deprived of food security.
He said people of tribal and Jhodia communities are dying after consuming non-food items like mango kernel and liquor. At least six people have died due to consuming such non-food items in the last three days.
Mishra demanded a statement from the Chief Minister to know the circumstances leading to the death of people in Kashipur. Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati too urged the Speaker to give a ruling asking the Chief Minister to make a statement.
While the Government is claiming that it is providing rice at Rs 1 per kilo, beneficiaries are deprived of the food security schemes and dying due to starvation. It is a sensitive matter, the Congress members said.
Rayagada Independent MLA Makaranda Muduli demanded to form a special medical team and provide healthcare service in Kashipur block immediately.
As per reports, around over 40 people of Kashipur block had lost their lives to diarrhoea in the year 2007.