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Villagers need government-issued ration cards to purchase rations at subsidized
rates from ration shops. Human Rights Watch spoke to around 20 camp residents
who stated that the government had not issued replacement ration cards to those
who lost their ration cards either during the hurried evacuation to camps or because
their hamlet was burned, leaving them unable to buy rations. 215
The Dantewada district collector stated that officials were struggling to deliver
provisions in camps created in 2007 in interior areas of Dantewada district due to
security concerns. The government delivers provisions to Jagargonda camp, for
instance, once every three months. 216 One police official stated that the road to
Jagargonda is heavily mined making it difficult to transport rations. He said, “Before
the last installment [of rations] was delivered about two weeks ago [in December
2007], there was a delay because we could not arrange for the required police force
to accompany the trucks [carrying rations]. As a result, about 20-22 children became
very sick due to malnourishment and starvation, and 2-3 children also died.” 217
The food that is distributed by the Chhattisgarh government either free or through its
subsidized public distribution program is different from the staple diet of tribal
communities. Instead of meat, fish, and forest produce, which is their normal diet,
the government provides camp residents lentils and rice. “Food we get [in the camps]
is not what we used to eat at home. [We used to eat] different herbs and plants from
the jungle. Here we don’t get that,” said one villager. 218 Another villager put it
simply—“We cannot live without fish, and without the jungles.” 219
The lack of food is compounded by the Chhattisgarh government’s failure to provide
a sustainable livelihood option for camp residents. Denied their traditional
livelihood of agriculture and sale of forest produce, camp residents are completely
215 Human Rights Watch group interview GR7 with women camp residents (who chose to remain anonymous), Dornapal camp,
December 12, 2007; group interview GR1 with residents (who chose to remain anonymous), B1 permanent housing site,
Dantewada district, December 15, 2007.
216 Human Rights Watch interview with S.P. Sori, district collector of Dantewada, January 28, 2008. District Collector Sori
assumed office after December 17, 2007. Human Rights Watch also interviewed his predecessor District Collector K. R. Pisda.
217 Human Rights Watch interview with police officer-2 (who requested anonymity), other details withheld.
218 Human Rights Watch interview with V5 (who chose to remain anonymous), camp resident, Konta camp, December 9, 2007.
219 Human Rights Watch interview with Oyam Suresh (pseudonym), camp resident, other details withheld.
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Human Rights Watch July 2008