Nathu Lal, a resident of Banda district in Uttar Pradesh, died on May 1. While his family alleges that the cause of death was starvation, the head of the village and the district magistrate blame it on marijuana use.
Banda is one of the most acutely drought-affected districts in the country. Residents in its various villages have complained of not getting adequate work and wages guaranteed to them under MNREGA. Nathu Lal’s relatives have also alleged that his family wasn’t provided any work under MNREGA and they had no means to earn a livelihood.
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There has been no progress in the case. Nobody from the administration visited the grieving family, neither did they receive any aid they were promised.
This story was originally published by Khabar Lahariya.