Questionnaire

Starvation deaths: impact and response

A field investigation

Please seek informed consent of the family of the deceased, and assess at every stage if the interview is
causing avoidable distress. In such a situation, please call off the interview immediately. Also respect
the dignity and suffering of the bereaved family.

Please select one or more willing members of the family of the deceased as informants, preferably
adults. If the deceased is without a family please talk to neighbors and friends, if any.

Before the interview, please collect any official documents about cause of death, such as post mortem
report, request, of report of administrative enquiry. Also media reports

Please hold the interview if possible in the house hold the deceased

Part-I
1. Details of information(s)
Name of Relationship Age Sex Did Informant(s) live If not, how dose
informant(s) with in same household as information(s) know
Deceased deceased at time of about condition death.
death? Describe it

2. Details of Deceased

If interview is in home of the deceased, please give the details of the home, in the term of the size,
assets etc.

1. Name of the Deceased:

2. Address : Muhalla/ Tola: Village:

Block/ Mandal: District:

3. Date of the Interview: Approximate date of the Death:

4. Gender of the Deceased: Age of the Deceased at the time of the Death:

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 5. Family structure: a)Nuclear b) Joint

Name of the Family Member Age Gender Relationship with Deceased

I.

II.

III.

IV.

V.

6. Was the deceased a working and earning member? If so what, what was the livelihood and status
for one year before death (earning, regularity, condition of work etc).

N. B. If the deceased is the dependent child, the answer of the following question in this section in the
relationship to the earning member(s)of the family of the deceased.

7. Occupation: (nature of the work)

I. Working person , active till death

II. Working person, stopped working some period before death (Specify period) Reason
for stopping work:

III Not working person

8. Estimated monthly income:

9. Property:
Details of the Land (What kind of the Land):
a) Inam Land b) Inherited Land
c) Govt sanctioned Land e) Bought

10. Agriculture:
Was the Land being irrigated? a) Yes b) No
If no, reasons a) Lack of water b) Lack of the Capital
c) Lack of the electricity d) Others

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 If yes, type of crops
a) Paddy b) Maize c) Cotton d) Pulse
e) Groundnut f) Chillies g) Sugarcane h) others, specify

11. Was the Yield sufficient to adequately feed the family?

12. If working as casual labor

a) no. of days worked in the last 6 months prior to death______.

13. What was the daily wage earned? (Rs.) _____________

14. In case of work unavailability in their own village, did he or she migrate in 6 months prior to
death? a) Yes b) No

15. Was any advance taken before migration? a) Yes b) No

16. If yes, Where did he or she go

a) Near by town b) A city within the state c) Another state (specify)

19. What was the duration of the migration? (period)____________

20. Specify the wages earned while migration (Rs.)_____________

21. In case occupation other than farming,

I. Nature of the work / type of work II. Daily wages III Monthly earning

22. Has the income been sufficient? a) Yes b) No

If no, Reason for insufficient income

23. Was there any income?

24. Has the total income during the last 6 month been sufficient to adequately feed all the
family members? Yes / No

25. How did he / she family cope with the hunger?

a) Eating Less b) Living on credit c) Living on Charity
d) Eating pseudo food items(specify) e) Any other, specify

26. Was deceased bonded? If so, details

27. Description (free- wheeling) in the word informant(s) of the circumstances and condition
of deceased.

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28. What were the views of the family was the cause of the death, with reason?

29. If this view is in conflict with official records of the cause of the death, what dose the
informant(s) feel about the official view(s)?

30. Was the deceased food deprived before death?

31. If so, what was the length of the time of the period of the food deprivation? What was its
extent? What was the nature? What in the opinion of the informant ware the causes of
this food deprivation?

32. How did the deceased cope with prolonged food deprivation?

33. Was the deceased thin, losing weight, within sunken eyes and cheeks, finding difficulty
in walking and every activity etc?

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 34. Was the deceased ill before the death? If so, details of ailments, length of time, treatment
etc.

3. Details of other Family members

1. Have any other members of the household died in the past 2 year? If so, please ask the
same questions as about the deceased who is the subject of the investigation.

2. Who are the other members of the family who survive the deceased? Name, Age, Gender
and relationship with the deceased?

Name Age Gender Relationship with deceased

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

3. Did any or this entire family member suffer from food deprivation? If so, what was the
length of the time period of this food deprivation? What was the extent? What was the
nature? What in opinion of the informant (s) ware there causes of this food deprivation?

4. How did the survivors cope with the prolonged food deprivation?

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5. Are the survivors’ thin, losing weight, with sunken eyes and cheeks, finding difficulty in
waking and every day activities etc?

6. Are survivors chronically ill at the time of investigation? If so, details of the ailments,
length of time, treatment etc.

7. Who (if any) are the other earning member of the household? If any, what was the livelihood and
status one year before death (earning, regularity, condition of the work etc).

8. Are any of the surviving members of deceased bonded? If so, details?

10. Did any members(s) sell / mortgage immovable / moveable assets over 3 year before the death? If
so, details?

PDS/ AAY
11. Do they have Ration Card?
Dose the ration shop provide food grains in the right quantity (35 kg per month), price on time
(when sought every month regularly)?

12. Type of the ration card : 1) APL card 2) BPL card 3) AAY card 4) Annapurna 5) None

13. How much food grains did the family get monthly, on the ration card?
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 14. Did the family buy grains on his/her card in the last 6 moths? a) Yes b) No

15. If not, Why a) Lack of money b) Out of the village

16. If yes, specify the months.

17. Was the ration sufficient for the needs of the family? Yes / No

18. If no, what was the method of supplementing (if any):

NREGA

19. Did deceased (if worker) or any one of the family have job card? Yes / No

21. If yes, did deceased (if a worker) or any one of the family have get worked in it? Yes / No

22. If not, Specify the reason:

23. If yes, specify the no of day work was available and wages(Days): ___________.

Pensions and NFBS

24. Is the deceased or any family member eligible to avail old age/ widow / disabled pension?
Yes / No

25. What was the pension amount?(Rs.per month)_____________.

26. Was the pension received regularly every month and in full amount, and where these
distributed at there doorstep on time before the 7th of every month? Yes / No

27. If not, Why not?

28. Did family get assistance under NFBS if deceased was earning adult? If so, how much long after
death?(Days)____________.

ICDS

29. Did anyone in the family go to ICDS centre? Yes / No

30. If eligible (Children below 6 years, and pregnant or nursing mothers), and no, specify the reason:

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 31. If no, dose an ICDS center exist in their hamlet? Yes / No

32. If yes, then was supplementary nutrition given? Yes / No

33. If yes, was it a ) Dry ration b)Hot cooked meal

34. If Not, why?

35. If their small children ware enrolled and regular availing of the service of ICDS, was their decline
of nutritional status identified and addressed on time; if not Why not?

MDM
Do Children from 6 to 14 years

36. Did all children between 6 and 14 years in the family nearby government school access mid day
meals? Yes / No

37. If No, Specify reason

38. If not, dose the nearest school served hot cooked MDMs ? Yes / No

39. Ware children enrolled in the school? If not, why not?

40. Did the family, in times of dire need get food from Mid Day Meal, ICDS or Emergency feeding
programmes? Yes / No

Food Security and Medical History

43. What was the last time the person had food from the market?

44. How many meals in a day did the deceased eat 6 months prior to death?(no.) ________.

45. Describe his / her normal meal

Rice: `Yes / No Quantity(in grams)
Dal: Yes / No Quantity(in grams)
Vegitable: Yes / No Quantity(in grams)

47. Did he / she complain of:

Constant complaint of hunger: Yes / No
Loss of feeling of Hunger: Yes / No
Dizziness on standing up: Yes / No
Extreme weakness and inability Yes / No
Inability to see at night Yes / No

48. Behavior change: None / Muttering or irrelevant talk / Unconscious

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 49. Was he ill prior to death? if yes , specify the illness

50. Where or from whom did he seek care?

Traditional healer
Governmental health center or clinic
Government hospital
Community based practitioner associated with health
System including trained birth attendant
Private physician
Pharmacy, drug seller, store, market
other provider
Relative, friend(outside household)

51. How was the health at time of death? Describe:

52. What was the place of death?

a) In the Hospital b) At home c) others

53. Is there a death certificate? Yes / No

53. If yes, what the cause of death as mentioned death certificate?

54. Did he / she under go any surgery in last six months prior to death? Yes / No

55. If yes, give details

56. Reason for death

Information from the death certificate
information from oral autopsy
Cause of death according to family

PART II
Condition of Community and Social Group

The National Human Right Commission established that death is not necessary as evidence of
starvation. Discourse around starvation should shift from not just those who died, but those who
survived but are deeply threatened.

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Therefore, in the second phase of investigation, the researcher should be identify the other member of
the tribe, caste, class, gender or age group to which the affected people belong and discussions should
be carried forward with them, in focus group discussions.

1. In FGD, and through personal verification, find out status of functioning of the food and
livelihood schemes, such as

Is there an operational Anganwari center running in the village

Is the near by government school providing hot cooked midday meals to the children,

Dose the ration shop provide food grain in the right quantity, price and on time

How many elderly persons in the village obtain social security benefits or pension
from the state and so on.

2. Have any other members of the relevant tribe, caste, class, gender or age group to which the
affected people belong died in the past 2 years, for reason that people believe ware connected with
serious and prolonged food deprivation? If so, please discuss in the same questions as about the
deceased who is the subject of the investigation.

2. Do any or all of surviving member of the tribe, caste, class, gender or age group to which the
affected people belong suffer from food deprivation? If so, what was the length of the time period
of this food deprivation? What was the extent? What was its nature? What was the opinion of the
FGD participants ware the causes of this food deprivation?

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4. How did they survivors cope with prolonged food deprivation?

5. Are many of the members of the tribe, caste, class, gender, or age group thin, losing weight, with
sunken eyes, and cheeks, finding difficulty in waking and everyday activities etc.

6. Are the members of the tribe, caste, class, gender or age group chronically ill at the time of the
investigation? If so, details of ailments, length of time, treatment etc.

7. What is there livelihood and status for one year before the death being investigated(earning,
regularity, condition of work etc)

8. Are any of the members of the tribe, caste, class, gender or age group bonded? If so, details.

9. Did any member(s) migrate over 3 years before the death? If so details?

10. Did Any member(s) sell / mortgage immovable/ moveable assets over 3 years before the death?
if so, Details?

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Conclusion about food deprivation

1. Conclusion for the above about the overall field situation of the family and community: not mainly
weather there was a starvation death, but weather the specific family, as well as in the location the
local community (such as landless workers) categories to which she or he belongs, subsist in
condition of prolonged deprivation of adequate food with dignity, or in the continuous uncertainty
about the availability of food, or dependence on the charity or debt belonged for food. It is reiterated
that the idea is not to probe death and is cause out only to understand the poverty and destitution
faced by the families and by similarly affected people. Attempt should also be made to understand the
root cause poverty such as livelihood crisis, heavy, debt, crop failures etc.

2. Conclusion about the access to food and livelihood schemes, and barrier there to faced by the local
community, tribe, caste, class, gender, or age group to which the affected people belong, and the
village(or urban settlement) at large.

These conclusion should be recorded in writing, and shared and explain in the local language to
affected people and communities, local elected leaders and local officials, and their feedback
incorporated.

PART III
State interventions in situation of suspected Starvation:

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This section should be based on feed back from 4 sources a) enquiry from family of deceased ; b)
enquiry from the community, class and social category to which the deceased belonged; c)discussion
with local and district level official and panchayat members; and d) personal observation of
researchers.

1. What was the immediate response to the news of death? (Get qualitative details)

a.) In the family

b.) In the village

c.) By the Panchayat members

2. Who all visited the family, (Specify dates, duration , attitude, behavior, what they said etc) and details
of the visit
a. From Panchayat

b. From District level administration:

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 c. From State:

d. From Centre:

e. From NHRC / State commission:

f. From media:

g. From NGOs:

3. What was the immediate relief given to family?

Free food grain

Ration Card (specify which card)
Pension
Job card
food from MDM
Admission of children to SC/ST hostel
Any health care benefits / nutritional rehabilitation
Early sanction of NFBS money
Children out of school were enrolled
Increasing quota of food entitlements (specify)

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 4. Did it lead to bring attention to other who is similarly threatened by starvation? If yes, give details
(how did they identify vulnerable population, what measure ware taken to enhance food security, if
more Anntodaya cards, pensions or Job card ware issued, any enquiry that was set up)

Relief and food right of the Family Deceased:

a. Did state or panchayat authorities ensure immediate food avilabillity to the family? if so, detail of
amount, periodicity, cost of any, term etc.

b. Did state or Panchayat authorities organize food availability on a more permanent basis at highly
subsidized rates to the family, by the distribution to them of AAY card, or at least BPL cards?

c. Did state or Panchaayat authorities ensure early sanction and release of insurance under NFBS?
d. Did state or Panchayat authorities ensure such as ICDS, MDM, NAREGA and old age, widow and
disability pensions?

e. Did state or Panchayat authorities ensure for children of family deceased, their education, food and
protection secured?

f. Did state or Panchayat organize psycho- social support through professional and trained lay counselors to
survivors of the deceased?

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g. Did state or Panchayat authorities organize for infants, small children expectant and nursing mothers,
supply for SNP from ICDS and hospitalization where necessary, arrangements for nutrition
rehabilitation, and health-care including immunization?

h. Did state or Panchayat authorities of food identify in consultation with the survivor in the family, reason
for livelihood denial, collapse or insecurities and assist them to build a secure livelihoods denial, collapse
and insecurities and assist them to build a secure livelihood through measures like land allotment and
restoration in case of alienation?

Relief and food right for other identify to be similarly threatened: for the community, class or
social category to which the family of the affected person belongs.

1. Where there any organized official efforts to identify reason for failure of food and livelihood
schemes to prevent and address starvation, including following:

Careful official and well published social audit of why they could not access their food
right from the food and livelihood schemes relevant for them?

Where there small children enrolled and regularly availing of the service of ICDS, and
was their decline of nutritional status identify and addressed on time if not why not?

Ware the old children in school, and did they access regular and nutritious mid-day
meals?

Did they have ration cards, AAY or at least BPL, and they regular receive the prescribed
quota of 35 kilograms of subsidized food grain from the ration shop; if not again why not?

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 Did all old people receive pensions, and where these distributed at there doorstep on time
every month?

The same question would apply widows and disable people in the state with scheme for
pensions for these groups?

Did they seek cards and work, and was this given to them in accordance with their legal
entitlements under NREGA.

2. Did district Panchayat leaders and collector, within 3 months from the date of in initial
information:

Fix responsibility at all level for the starvation death

Punish those found guilty of lapse in their duties(give details):

Remedy gaps of funds, resource and personnel

Address issue of the discrimination and social exclusion

Ensure time bound coverage of all affected and threatened people by AAY ration cards job
under NREGA, old age, widow disability pensions, and ICDS services, including nutritional
rehabilitation and hospitalization where fund necessary:

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 Were there further deaths after the first death from similar conditions of sever food
deprivation?

3. In the long run, ware local structural sources of pauperization identify and local solutions
developed, possibly in consultation with gram sabha and village Panchayat? ( These may include
failure to implement land reforms, tribal land alienation, caste discrimination, micro minor
irrigation and watershed development, availability of formal credit for agriculture and artisans,
access to forests and choice of agricultural technology and cropping patterns)? were any of these
addressed? What was the impact if any of these measures? Give details.

4. If any funded NGO works in the area, please consider it also as duty bearer and ask similar
questions as a duty bearer and ask similar question about the role of the state.

5. Ware there any intervention from the members of the local community? Give details.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

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Researcher Name:

Signature :
Date :

5. Was any government enquiry done? Yes / No

6. If Yes, was the report given to the family of the deceased (specify the language of the repot)?
Yes / No

7. Plz specify the major finding of the enquiry report(Plz Quote)

8. Was there any Panchayat meeting on the issue?(Seek details)

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