Mango Kernels – Fact Finding Mission Report

Executive Summary

Two women from Mandipanka village had died after consuming mango kernels on 30^th October, 2024. One of the deceased women had locomotor disability. Six other women from the village had also consumed mango kernels had continuous vomiting and loose motions and were hospitalized in MKCG medical college, Berhampur and SCB medical college, Cuttack. A Fact finding Mission from the Odisha Khadya Adhikar Abhiyan (Odisha State Right to Food and Work Campaign) and supported by the Civil Society Forum on Human Rights (CSFHR) was commissioned. The team undertook a quick assessment of the hunger and food security ground situation and interacted with key stakeholders including families of the deceased and affected families and local NGOs working in Daringbadi Block of Kandhamal district.

Mango kernel powder is mixed with rice or ragi and made into a gruel and consumed by the local tribal (Kondh) and dalit communities in Southern and Western Odisha, more as a coping mechanism, especially during the food scare periods of the year (August, September and October). The mango kernels had developed fungus, which could have led to food contamination leading to food poisoning and death. Most of the households (almost 90%) in Mandipanka village are poor and belong to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category.

Shifting cultivation is practiced by most small and marginal farmers in the village during the Kharif season. Paddy and Minor millets are cultivated by the local Kondh community on small patches of land. Some vegetables like brinjal, pumpkin, ridge gourd, bottle gourd, beans, tomato, chillies and green leafy vegetable like amaranthus etc., are also cultivated on homestead lands. Subsistence agriculture (for household consumption) is the mainstay for a majority of households in the village.

The household level food security is only for 4 to 6 months in a year. The daily Dietary Diversity is limited. Carbohydrates form the major food component. Proteins and fats are minimal or non-existent. High rates of anaemia (over 50%) and child malnourishment (over 23%) is reported from the district. The ration received from the PDS suffices for only 10 to 15 days in a month. High rates of seasonal distress out-migration was reported from the district to Southern States like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Kerala.

The local communities are dependent on the adjoining forests for the food, fuel wood and housing needs. Dependency on the forest is majorly for 2 to 3 months in a year to gather tubers and yams, flowers, berries, fruits, honey, uncultivated plants etc.

There are limited gainful opportunities in the villages. Seasonal distress out-migration was reported to be high from the district. Late onset of monsoons and extreme weather events have led to the delay in sowing of paddy and millets in the district. This has further aggravated the food security situation in the village.

The awareness levels of the local communities on Government development schemes and flagship programmes is limited. The engagement of local communities under MGNREGS (100 days wage employment scheme) is abysmally low – 5 to 7 days in a year. Liquid cash is limited or non-existent in most BPL households.

Fact Finding Mission

A Fact Finding Mission from the Civil Society (Odisha Khadya Adhikar Abhiyan – Odisha Right to Food and Work Campaign), comprising of 4 members including independent researcher, social workers and media professionals was undertaken on 8^th November, 2024. The Fact Finding Mission team was locally supported by a local grassroots NGO, working in Kandhamal district. The District Collector and the RDC (South). NGOs and Local Church representatives had visited the village during end October and early November. The District administration and local Church has provided some gratuitous support of food and cash to the families of the victims and other affected families.

The Fact Finding Mission team visited Mandipanka village, about 40 Km from Daringbadi block headquarters. The team had detailed discussions at the Christian Sahi (with 9 families in the hamlet) and discussed with the victims, members of the affected families and 8 to 10 community representatives. The village is accessible by road. It is 3 km away from the main road head. The village has piped water supply and limited Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) infrastructure facilities. There is a Anganwadi center and a primary school in the village. There are two Tubewells (Solar powered). There are two Churches in the village. The village is electrified. The major house types is bricks and asbestos and brick with Mangalore tiles. The village is surrounded by forests.

Fact Finding Mission Team members:

1. Mr. Ravi Shankar Behera, Social Development Advisor and Researcher
2. Mr. Bidyut Mohanty, Social Worker
3. Ms. Sujata Jena, Independent Advocate
4. Mrs. Rakhi Ghosh, Independent Journalist

Name of the village visited: Mandipanka; Gram Panchayat: Brahmanigoan; Block: Daringbadi; District: Kandhamal; State: Odisha.

Socio-economic information of Mandipanka village

Total households: 225 HHs; Total Population: 922; Scheduled Tribes (ST): 135 HHs; Scheduled Castes (SC): 90 HHs; Families receiving PDS: 185 HHs; Antodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) beneficiaries: 13 HHs.

Context and Background

In Odisha, 45% of children under five years of age suffer from chronic undernutrition. This number amongst tribal children is even higher, with 57% of tribal children under five chronically undernourished, according to a UNICEF report. The situation among Odisha’s rural tribal children aged 18-23 months is even more serious, with the prevalence of stunting (low height for age) as high as 83%.

Most food insecure and vulnerable people suffer from malnutrition, morbidity, disease and micronutrient deficiencies. About 40 percent children are reported normal and the remaining 60 percent have some form of nutritional deficiency.

About 37.6 percent children have Grade I (i.e., mild) malnutrition and 22 percent have Grade II (i.e., moderate) malnutrition. About two percent children have Grade III and IV (i.e., severe) malnutrition. About 53.8 percent children, 11.2 percent adolescent girls and 33.3 percent pregnant women report mild anaemia and 39.8 percent children, 57.8 percent adolescent girls and 66.7 percent pregnant women report a moderate form of anaemia and 3.2 percent children and 29.5 percent adolescent girls suffer from severe form of anaemia (Source: NFHS – 6 report, 2023-24).

Seasonal Distress Migration

The primary source of income is from agriculture, followed by casual labour and money received from remittances done by seasonal migrants. There is an increasing trend in the seasonal distress migration from the villages to other states like Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Money sent to the families by the migrants are an important source of income for most BPL families in the village to take care of their consumption needs, clothing, medical expenses, etc.

Kandhamal District – A Broad Overview

Kandhamal district experiences sub tropical hot and dry climate in summer. Dry and cold climate in winter. The maximum temperature recorded in the district is 45.5 degree C and minimum temperature is 2.0 degree Celsius. The average annual rainfall recorded is 1522.95 mm. Physiographically, the entire district lies in high altitude zone with inter spreading inaccessible terrain of hilly ranges and narrow valley tracts, which guides the socio–economic conditions of people and development of the district.

Kandhamal District is located in central Odisha. It comes under the North Eastern Ghat Agro-Climatic Zone. Almost 66 percent of the land area of the district is covered with dense forests and towering mountains rich in green meadows at the attitude of 2000 feet to 3000 feet, the terraced valleys. The soil in the district is mostly Red laterite group, having organic matters contents. As such, the water holding capacity is very low. The PH value of the soil varies 5.3 to 6.5, which is acidic in nature. The big chunk of land consists of red laterite sandy loam soils being exposed to constant soil erosion and run off devoid of humus contents render in fertile and turn into barren wastelands. The important crops grown in the district during the Kharif season are Paddy, Maize and Niger. In irrigated areas, crops like Potato, Vegetable and Mustard are grown.

Status of Malnourishment in Odisha

The prevalence of stunting and wasting among the children less than 5 years of age are 34.1% and 20.4%, respectively. Almost, 8% children are severely affected malnourished (SAM) and 30% children fall under Grade I-IV malnutrition. The Infant mortality Rate (IMR) is 40 and the Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) is 237. The recommended dietary intake (RDI) gap for most nutrients is more than 50%. Only 54.9% children between 6-8 months receive solid and semi-solid food and breast milk and 8.9% children age 6-23 months receive an adequate diet. 51% of women age 15-49 years and 44.6% children 6-59 months are anaemic in the State. (Source: NFHS – 6 report, 2023-24).

Good sanitation, hygiene and safe drinking water have a bearing on good health and nutrition. Strangely, 77.7% households in Odisha are practicing open defecation. As per Odisha Economic Survey, growth rates of GSDP- 13-14 are only 5.6%. The state does not have a baseline on micronutrient deficiency and obesity situation. As in national data where 16.5% women and 17.2% men aged 20 + are overweight, the state is likely to have a similar trend.

The uneducated (with low cognitive ability) and unhealthy labor force significantly slows down productivity, economy and growth. The culture of silence, passivity and circle of uncertainty strangulate aspirations of present generation in infancy. Its 23% Scheduled Tribe (ST) and 17% Scheduled Caste (SC) population are worst victim to perpetual poverty and marginalization. As a result, the state reels under a poverty and backward tag and figures high in malnutrition, poor health and hunger map prominently.

Kandhamal is endowed with vast minor forest and agricultural produces which incidentally form the basis of its industry. The district has many cottage and agro based industry that process forest and agricultural produce. It also possesses abundant graphite reserves in Tumdibandha Block. The district is major producer of ginger, turmeric and has created a name for itself in India for spice cultivation. It contributes to the state economy through the production of cups and plates stitched out of Sal leaves besides other Non timber forest products (NTFPs).

The district economy is dominated by agriculture and allied sectors including horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries, and forestry. Land is an important asset and land-based activities are key livelihood activities. According to the Forest Survey of India Report, 2011, 68.18 percent of the district geographical area is under forest cover. Minor forest products, viz., Tamarind, Hill brooms, Fibres, Oilseeds, Kendu leaves, Medicinal plants, Fruits, Berries, uncultivated plants, wild food plants, Roots, Gums, Tuber, Flowers, Jhuna, etc. are plenty available in the district due to large forest base.

The district topography makes 70 percent of the land unproductive agriculturally. The district climate is suitable for horticulture and it is known for turmeric, ginger and honey (forest-based and cultured in some places). It is found that Agriculture, horticulture, tourism, forestry and micro-enterprises are the major sectors that are going to be the growth drivers for the district. The specific weather parameters are – Hot & moist, sub-humid temperatures; Rainfall: 1522 mm; Soils: Brown Forest, Lateritic Alluvial, Red, Mixed Red & Black; Maximum temperature: 37 degrees Celsius; Minimum temperature: 10.4 degrees Celsius.

Local Scheduled Caste (Kondh) and Scheduled Caste in Kandhamal district cultivate and consume Paddy and Millets in their daily diets. The household level food security is only for 4 to 6 months in a year. They are mainly dependent on agriculture and allied activities for their livelihoods. Most of the households (90%) are small and marginal farmers owning less than 5 acres of land. Paddy and Minor Millets are the main crops cultivated during the Kharif season (Rainy season – June to September). Shifting cultivation (Slash and Burn method) is practiced by most households. Kitchen gardens are also found on homestead lands, where the local communities cultivate vegetables and greens. Agriculture is mostly rainfed. Most of the land is fallow during Rabi and summer months due to lack of adequate assured irrigation facilities. Most of the rural households have arable lands and FRA titles.

Six months baby of the deceased

A majority of the rural households also work as agricultural workers. The Government has a plethora of development schemes and programmes including specific schemes for agriculture and allied sectors in Odisha like the Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme, Mukhyamatri Krushi Udyog Yojana (MKUVY), Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), Pradhan Mantri Gramin Vikas Yojana, (PMGKY), Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), Kisan Credit Card (KCC), Bhumihina Agriculturist Loan and Augmentation Model (BALARAMA scheme), Soil Health Management scheme,  Jalnidhi, Biju Kalyan Yojana, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), Mo Pokhori scheme, Subhadra Yojana, Harishchandra Yojana, Millets Mission, Odisha, e-Pest Surveillance programme, apart from other Departmental programmes from Department of Horticulture, Soil and Water Conservation etc.

High rates of distress seasonal out-migration was reported from the district, where almost each household had a family members who migrate to Kerala and other southern states like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka for gainful employment.

Local communities are heavily dependent on PDS rice which lasts for only 10 to 15 days in a month. To supplement their diet, rural families consume Green Spinach, Amaranthus, Yam (Kanda), seasonally gathered from the hills and forest, along with Beans and Papaya grown in home gardens. Not much vegetables, eggs, meat and dal are added to daily food on special occasions due to no cash at hand (liquid cash). The average household income of a rural household ranges between Rs. 5500 to Rs. 12000 per month.

History of Consumption of Mango Kernels

Mango kernels are consumed by tribal communities in South and Western Odisha including the districts of Koraput, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Balangir, Kalahandi, Boudh, etc., during periods of extreme food stress since generations. Some Anthropologists attribute this as a traditional food habit of tribals.

Kashipur (Rayagada), which has a history of eating Mango Kernel since the 1990s, the tribals grind it and suspend it in running water and then make a gruel with some rice or ragi if available. The food value of Mango Kernel has been studied by National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Hyderabad. It has good fat content. It is collected and consumed in Kashipur by tribals and can be processed as Cattle Feed. Basically storing in open and in contaminated place, the mango kernels develop fungus which leads to food poisoning.

In 1996 one person had died in Butedi village under Saramuli Gram Panchayat of Daringibadi block after consuming mango kernel gruel. 

The recent deaths in Kandhamal during October, 2024 has caused a public outrage among local tribal and dalit communities and the civil society organizations. The mango kernel gruel, which people had consumed on 30^th October, 2024 in the far-flung Mandipanka village under the Daringbadi block of Odisha’s Kandhamal district, had developed fungal growth having been stored for over two-three days and become toxic.

Two women died on 30^th October, 2024 after developing health issues and medical complications like vomiting and loose motions after consuming the mango kernels. Such incidents in a Welfare State is unimaginable and uncalled for. There seems to be a complete apathy and negligence by the State Government towards the local Kondh community. Provisioning of basic services including health services, food and nutrition schemes and entitlements is far below acceptable standards of Governance.

Anil Patmajhi (Husband of the deceased)

Some locals alleged that they have no option than to consume mango kernel gruel as they had limited rice in their household. The BPL families in the village had not received rice under the PDS since July, 2024 for over 3 months. It is alarming that tribal communities still rely on mango kernels in their diet as a distress coping mechanism, despite the known health risks. This practice reflects the prevalent widespread semi-starvation conditions, chronic hunger and food insecurity scenario in Kandhamal district. Local communities have limited access to safe, nutritious food, majorly due to subsistence agriculture on marginal lands and irregular PDS.

In spite of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 and other Government social security schemes, food and nutrition schemes, being operational, poor people continue to depend on non-food items like mango kernels for their survival. Mango kernels contain cyanogenic glycosides, particularly amygdalin, a compound that, when ingested, can release hydrogen cyanide (HCN) – a highly toxic substance. Amygdalin is naturally present in various seeds and kernels, including those of mangoes, bitter almonds, apricots, and other stone fruits. Ingested amygdalin breaks down in the digestive system, releasing hydrogen cyanide, which can inhibit cellular respiration by blocking the enzyme cytochrome oxidase. This inhibition decreases oxygen usage by cells, leading to symptoms of cyanide poisoning.

The Public Distribution System (PDS) food grains supply have been irregular and people are only able to get their quota of rations once in three months (due to logistics and other Governance factors) and not on a monthly basis. This is more evident in the remote hinterlands and hard to reach areas where tribals and other most vulnerable and poor communities reside. Highlighting that the quantity of 5 kg a month per person often falls short for tribal families. This amount is only sufficient for 10-15 days in a month for an average rural household. To ensure that a rural household has enough food for the entire month, the household quota should be increased to 15 kg a month.

Symptoms of Cyanide Poisoning varies by exposure level

• Mild Exposure: Dizziness, headache, nausea and vomiting.
• Moderate to Severe Exposure: Multiple-organ failure including muscle weakness, respiratory distress, cardiac arrest, unconsciousness, and potentially death.

Safe Preparation and Detoxification Methods

Traditional methods like soaking kernels in water for an extended period, followed by sun drying or thorough boiling, can reduce cyanogenic content. However, even with these methods, some toxins may remain, so caution is advised. According to the WHO, Mango Kernel is traditional food of the tribals or a nutritious food? It is not. Consuming of mango kernel porridge/ gruel is an indicator of extreme food distress, chronic hunger and food insecurity and abject poverty. Mango kernels are usually stored in the households and dried in the sun. They are also decanted running water of streams to remove the poisonous colloides. They have to be dried in sun also before making the mango kernel and broken rice porridge. However, most often than not the mango kernels are not properly treated before consumption which leads to stomach discomfort, vomiting and sometimes death. Many liver complications are also associated with it such as Fulminant Hepatitis, eventually leading to Multi-organ failure and even death.

Nutrition Constituents

Mango seeds contain a significant amount of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, and some specific bioactive compounds. The mango seed kernel contains 53.34 to 76.81% carbohydrates, 5.20 to 10.48% proteins, 9.84 to 18.0% fat/oil, and 0.26 to 10.60% crude fiber. Specifically, mango seed kernel is a remarkable source of phytochemicals having the potential to improve human health and prevent the growth of pathogenic microorganisms.

Mango seed kernel possesses phytosterols, carotenoids, tocopherol, polyphenols (mangiferin, hesperidin, vanillin, penta-o-galloyl-glucoside, rutin, quercetin, kaempferol, etc.), and phenolic acids (gallic acid, caffeic acid, ellagic acid, ferulic acid, etc.). These phytochemicals are known for their high antioxidant, anticancer, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, and antiplatelet aggregation properties. Phytochemicals present in mango seed kernel show antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Vibrio vulnificus, Candida albicans, and Xanthomonas campestris. 

Women affected by Mango kernel consumption

1. Ms. Jita Majhi
2. Ms. Tuni Majhi
3. Ms. Prabhati Patmajhi
4. Ms. Drengalo Patmajhi
5. Ms. Sushma Patmajhi
6. Ms. Jibanti Majhi
7. Ms. Runu Majhi
8. Ms. Ramita Patmajhi

Key Findings and Analysis from the Fact-Finding Mission

• Abject Poverty: Most of the families in the village (90% of the households) are living under abject poverty and semi-starvation conditions with little or no liquid cash. Kandhamal district suffers from endemic hunger, chronic hunger and food insecurity.

• Agriculture scenario: There are only 3% arable low lands, where Paddy is cultivated. Paddy and minor millets are mostly sown on the uplands and hills have not been harvested as yet. This was due to late sowing attributed to the late onset of monsoons and extreme weather events during 2024. Cultivation of vegetables and spices like Turmeric, Ginger is preferred by the local farmers due to high demand and marketed as a cash crop.

• Household level Food security situation: Five Kg rice per person is insufficient as they eat three times in a day. On an average, a family of 5 members consumes 1 Kg of rice, three times a day. It was reported that 60 Kg rice was sufficient for only 15 days a month. To compensate the scarcity of food, local communities add Mango kernel powder and Jackfruit seed powder to rice or ragi and consume the gruel with chillies and salt.

• Hunger period / Food Stress months: Families reported that the period between September, October and November are the lean months/ food stress/ hunger periods and they find difficulties in gathering and consuming adequate food. They also face food stress during the summer months of April and May.

• Irregular PDS: The families receive food grains (rice) once in three months for last one year. The last they had received in the month of July, which supposed to continue till October last. The PDS they supposed to get in the month of October was not distributed. The community received their quota of PDS on 3^rd November, two days after the death of two women. The rice they are receiving through PDS is insufficient, thus the scarcity started from the month of September.

• Prevalence of high rates of anaemia and child malnutrition: Most of the women are anaemic (Over 50% women) and children (over 23%) are malnourished in the village. Mostly Carbohydrates form the major diet of most rural households. Pulses/Lentils, Milk and Meat are minimal or non-existent.

• Daily Dietary Diversity (DDD): Daily Dietary Diversity is poor (serious category) among most tribal households. Mandia Pej (Ragi gruel) and rice, Salt and Green Chillies for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The diet majorly consists of carbohydrates (Rice and Ragi). Vegetable consumption is very less. Pulses and meat are consumed occasionally, once a month of during festivals or visits from relatives and friends.
• Access to Institutional Finance: Access to institutional finance is poor in the remote tribal hinterlands. Over 70% of the Small and Marginal farmers do not have access to Institutional Finance (Nationalized Banks) for crop loans and consumption loans due to cumbersome banking systems and lack of collateral. Majority of the Small and Marginal farmers take loans from informal sources, landlords and money lenders, agri-input companies and dealers at high rates of interest.

• Crop Insurance: The awareness on crop insurance schemes is minimal and farmers do not have a good experience with the insurance providers.

• Weak Government agriculture extension: Government agriculture extension systems are weak and have a limited outreach.

• High rates of indebtedness: Most of the households are indebted. People have taken loans from relatives, friends, Micro Finance companies and local money lenders mainly for consumption purposes at high rates of interest.

• Breakdown of social systems and community caring mechanisms: There has been a breakdown of the social structures and community based systems in the village such as Self Help Groups (SHGs), Youth groups, Farmers’ groups and associations, Goudo system (Grazing of small ruminants and livestock), etc. People are not organized and there is little community caring mechanisms to support most vulnerable individuals and families during extreme distress/ periods of hunger, food insecurity and health emergencies.

• Forest dependency: Local communities depend on the forest for 2-4 months in a year for their food, housing and fuel wood needs. They collect different types of Green leafy vegetables (Saag), flowers, berries, Tubers and Yams (pita kanda, bhata kanda, mundi kanda, uncultivated food plants, mushrooms and Kardi – tender bamboo shoots, kanda from Salap tree (Royal Palm) from the forest and eat it with rice or ragi gruel (Mandia Pej).

• Exclusion criteria (PDS): The women and some children are not included in government’s subsidized PDS scheme due to various reasons. Ramita Patmajhi married to Anil in 2018 but her name is not included in the ration card. Her husband Anil went to block office many times (three times) and requested the officials to include her but all in vain. The 26-year-old woman, who died due to starvation and consumption of mango kernel, had not been included in her husband’s family ration list despite being married for over four years. This omission points to administrative negligence. She also has a 6 months child which requires breast feeding.

• Lack of gainful employment in the village: There is limited or no work opportunity available in their village, so most of the men in the village go to other states-Kerala to work in different factories (Mining and Quarry, Hotels, Construction industry, Rubber plantation, Beer Bars, etc.). Those who stay back, have job cards and get work under MGNREGS. The male members said, they didn’t get work for last three months. Anil Patmajhi and Rasenta Patmajhi said they last worked for only 3-5 days under MGNREGS and earned Rs. 500 during 2023-24.

• Seasonal Distress migration situation: Seasonal distress out-migration is high from the village. Male members (able-bodied members) migrate out to various towns and cities outside the State like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Many local youths are unemployed after completing their 10^th class education. Due to the lack of local employment, they work seasonally in other states, such as Kerala, sending money back to their families and returning every few months. Daringbadi block, where Mandipanka is located, has a high rate of distress Out-migration. It is reported that 24 migrant workers from Daringbadi died within a single year, indicating significant risks for migrant laborers from this area.

• Government development schemes and programmes: Awareness on Government development schemes, benefits, infrastructure and services is limited among the local communities. They have not received financial assistance under PM Awas Yojana to build house or any other Government development scheme. 

• Restrictions on Local Cultivation of Pulses by forest Department officials on uplands and hill slopes: Forest department regulations prohibit the cultivation of leguminous crops like pulses (Kandula – Arhar), beans, katting, etc. black gram, green gram, making it difficult for families to access protein-rich foods. Pulses (dal) are only purchased on rare occasions, such as when guests visit.

• Delayed Subhadra Scheme Benefits: Although families applied for benefits under the Subhadra Scheme in September, they have yet to receive any assistance from this Scheme.

• Absence of Labour Cards: Although many villagers work as laborers, they lack labor cards, preventing them from accessing social security benefits in cases of accidents or death and other legible entitlements.

• Sal leaf plate making: A majority of the households are engaged in Sal leaf plate making. People also collect Siali leaves from the forest and make leaf plates. Sale of leaf plates is an important source of income for most families.

• Gratuitous Relief provided to Affected Families: Following this tragic incident, the Government has distributed funds from the Red Cross offered Rs. 30,000 to each bereaved family and Rs. 10,000 to affected families. Local church groups provided some cash assistance between Rs. 500-1000, some rice and 2 kg of Dal. The Gram Panchayat has released Rs. 3000 to the bereaved families under the Harishchandra Scheme.

• Commercial cultivation of Hybrid Maize: Hybrid maize cultivation is now practiced by some families. These maize cultivation has also been taken up in the common lands. Hybrid maize cultivation is currently promoted by private Multi-national companies and corporations. Hybrid maize is cultivated mainly for chicken feed. This is a new threat in Kandhamal for food security.

Response of Government, Political Parties and Civil Society Organizations

• The State government has ordered a probe into the incident, had earlier attributed the deaths to food poisoning. It had also expressed serious concern over the reluctance of some communities to shun the traditional food practice. The district administration has also provided a financial assistance of Rs. 30,000 each to families and Rs. 10,000 to those who are under treatment.

• The Deputy Chief Minister expressed her grief but was of the opinion that the dietary habits of tribals for the tragic deaths. ASHA and Anganwadi workers have been directed to carry out regular awareness drives to discourage the use of mango kernels as a food option.

• Odisha Health and Family Welfare Minister has ordered a judicial investigation into the death of two people after consuming mango kernel in Mandipanka village, Daringbadi block, Kandhamal district.

• The Health Department has opened an investigation into the incident. Officials from the District Headquarters Hospital and the Health Directorate have come on-site to assess the situation, and a medical team have conducted a thorough investigations. A post-mortem report is awaited to determine the exact cause of death. Mango kernel consumption is very frequent in the Kandhamal region. Reports of health issues associated with mango kernel have appeared in the media on a regular basis in recent years.

• The Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi reviewed the public distribution system at Lok Seva Bhawan and directed the Food Supply and Camp Welfare Department to provide three months of rice in advance to the beneficiaries. The Chief Minister’s order to give rice three months in advance for each beneficiary is 15 kg. 1.31 lakh workers excluded from food security scheme. The Chief Minister’s decision to immediately involve in the State Food Security Scheme in a meeting on 5^th November, 2024.

• According to the instructions of the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Odisha, each beneficiary will get 15 kg of rice for three months (October to December). It is worth noting that this process has started since October, but 40 lakh families have not received rice till now. Therefore, the Chief Minister has ordered to distribute rice to these families immediately.

• The discussion of the meeting revealed that the state government is taking steps to include all the workers registered as e-workers in the general distribution system. Almost all of the 1.3 million workers registered in e-Shramik have been covered, while 1.31 thousand workers are left. The Chief Minister directed to involve them immediately in the State Food Security Scheme.

• The One Nation One Reason system was also discussed in the meeting. The Chief Minister suggested to streamline the e-KYC system for migrants living in other states.

• Food Supply and Camp Welfare Minister Mr. Krishna Chandra Panigrahy, Chief Administrative Secretary Mr. Manoj Ahuja, Additional Chief Administrative Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. Nikunj Bihari Dhal, Food Supply and Camp Welfare Department Principal Secretary Mr. Veer Bikram Jacob were prominently present in the meeting.

• The District Collector and RDC (South) visited the village during end October and 11^th November, 2024 and took stock of the ground situation.

• Local Church members and NGO representatives working in Kandhamal visited the village and provided some food grains and Cash support to the families of the victims.

Also read: Dome Effect, Rising Temperatures, Public Distress and Some Solutions

Some key questions

1. Why do tribals and dalits eat Mango Kernel? Is it because of the pangs of hunger and nothing else is available during monsoon months/ food stress periods/months?
2. But why Kandhamal? We need to study why in this Kandhamal Case, the people took Mango Kernel in spite of having a good forest cover and availability of Wild food plants (WFPs) and Non Timber Forest Products (NTFPs)?
3. Why is the PDS supplied quarterly and not on a monthly basis as per the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in Odisha?
4. What are the community coping mechanisms during extreme food stress months/ periods?
5. Why do community-caring mechanisms fail during food stress periods?
6. What could be the role of local NGOs, INGOs, CSOs, CSR Foundations, international donors, UN agencies like UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA, FAO etc., and other development support organizations during a food emergency situation?

Suggestions / Recommendations and Way Forward

Short term measures

• Provisioning of immediate gratuitous relief and cash by the district administration to the affected families and other BPL families in the region.
• Provisioning of adequate compensation to the families of the deceased and affected families and ensure proper relief and rehabilitation.
• Government should provide subsidized rice in the PDS to the beneficiaries every month and not quarterly.
• Five kg rice under NFSA is not sufficient for the rural households having at least 5 to 7 members in a family. Government should identify he extremely vulnerable families and provide them with some extra kg of rice and cash. There is a need to increase the allocation of food grains from the present 5 Kg to 15 kg per household.
• The Government should also provide pulses (dal) and oil in the Public Distribution System (PDS).
• GO-NGO Co-ordination: District Level Co-ordination Committee should be formed/revoked and quarterly DLCC meetings should be organized, led by the District administration in close co-ordination with NGOs and civil society groups, intellectuals, professions etc.
• The Government, in tribal-dominated areas, need to support and promote climate-resilient sustainable agriculture and ensure minimum support price (MSP) for the NTFPs and proper marketing linkages.
• Sal leaf plate making should be supported by the Government and adequate marketing linkages for the NTFPs need to be assured.
• District Mineral Fund (DMF) and MGNREGS funds can be utilized for developing private agricultural lands and community lands, especially for soil and water conservation, development of village infrastructure and community assets.

Medium term measures

• Mapping of hunger pockets in the State and identification of most vulnerable individuals and families. A special package and action plan need to be developed to cater to the special needs and vulnerabilities of most marginalized and poor households in the State.
• The Government should provide an immediate and fair allocation of land to all landless families in the district, prioritizing those in regions with high rates of food insecurity and hunger deaths. There must be a transparent criterion in land distribution, prioritizing marginalized communities like Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, women, People with Disability (PWDs) and those without alternative livelihoods.
• Support rural “on Farm” and “Off Farm livelihoods. The Government should support sustainable rural livelihoods for local youth, women and men through Odisha Livelihoods Mission (OLM), Mission Shakti.
• Social Assistance programmes and safety nets like social security schemes and flagship programme (PDS, Pensions, Maternity benefits, MGNREGS, etc.), need to be ensured by the Government.
• Provisioning of breakfast for school children along with Mid Day Meals at all Government and government-aided schools.
• Regular monitoring of weight and height of all Pre-school children in Anganwadi Centers to detect and promptly report cases of Severe Acute Malnourishment (SAM).
• Filling up of all vacant posts in schools and Anganwadi Centers.
• Provisioning of supplementary nutrition to SAM children and pregnant women and lactating mothers.
• Provisioning of hot-cooked, culturally appropriate food is a far more robust guarantee of child nutrition than micronutrient-fortified ready-to-eat food. Fortified rice/food should be discouraged by the Government as it may lead to serious public health crisis in the future.
• Provisioning of Take-home rations (THR) during summer vacations.
• Promotion of Breastfeeding after 6 months up until 2 to 3 years.
• Survey on social security schemes and employment.
• Provisioning of crèche or child care services for children at the village/ hamlet level.
• Delinking of Aadhaar with food, nutrition, social security and employment schemes by the Government.
• Village Forest Protection committees and Jaanch Committees need to be formed and strengthened.
• Provisioning of Aadhaar Cards for all community members.
• Provisioning of Job Cards for all eligible beneficiaries.
• Skill building programmes to be supported for rural youth and entrepreneurship development programmes to be supported by the Government.
• There should be a storage facility of food grains at Gram Panchayat level and the Sarpanch needs to be in charge of that storage. Food grains storage infrastructure need to be increased and upgraded at the Gram Panchayat and village level, especially in the hard to reach areas. The Sarpanch should provide food grains to the families in distress (Annapurna Yojana – free rice up to 20 Kg per household).
• Adults (able-bodied) members should be provided with regular work under MGNREGS. Those who are willing to migrate need to be enrolled in the labour department web-portal and be provided with labour cards.
• Women in the family should be given some livelihood opportunities including – backyard poultry, goattery, mushroom cultivation, fishery, livestock, etc., to support and enhance family incomes of poorest and most vulnerable households.
• Kitchen garden should be encouraged to improve household level food and nutrition security.
• The government, village groups, social organizations sit down and co-ordinate with each other to implement the various food and nutrition schemes based on the real need for the people and implemented it transparently.
• FRA titles need to be provided to eligible beneficiaries on a Mission mode in the tribal areas of the State. This should also be supported with adequate provisions for further land development and crop production on the FRA lands.
• Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) planning should be completed in the district.
• Crop insurance schemes need to be supported by the nationalized banks and NABARD.
• Value addition of agricultural produce and NTFPs need to be supported especially for collection, storage, processing, packaging, branding and marketing linkages by the Government and other development support agencies.

Long term measures

• Universal coverage of poor households under National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013.
• Delinking Aadhaar from all food, nutrition, social security and development schemes for all practical purposes.
• Support work on conservation of local landraces and agro-biodiversity – in-situ conservation (cultivation of the local varieties in the farmlands)
• Ecological farming systems and practices, pilots and models which can be replicated in similar geographies and replicated / scaled up by the Government and other development sector actors.
• Human Capital development – formation and strengthening of SHGs, local farmers groups and associations, women farmers groups, training of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) / Farmer Producer Company (FPCs), etc.
• Support and promotion of Renewable energy and green technologies – Solar based pumps, Lift irrigation, DBIS – Diversion based irrigation systems (natural springs, gravity flow).
• Financial and managerial support to promote agricultural and NTFP value chains.
• Technical Assistance on ecological agriculture, Capacity building, partnerships with State Missions like Millets Mission, POSHAN Abhiyan 2.0, Millets Mission, etc.
• Work with like-minded Civil society organizations, NGOs, private sector actors, state, national and international campaigns etc.
• Systems strengthening of Government line departments – Education, Health, Nutrition, Agriculture, Forestry, WASH and Social Security and employment.
• Convergence between all State Government line departments and Ministries.
• Distribution of FRA land titles/ forest patta to eligible beneficiaries.
• District Mineral Fund (DMF) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding for vulnerable and marginalized communities.
• Insurance for poor households need to be ensured by the Government and private sector actors.
• Crop Contingency Plans at the district level.
• More private sector engagements in the area of sustainable community development and women empowerment.
• Involvement of more NGOs and civil society organizations to work in tandem with Government and the District administration.
• Involvement of Universities, Agriculture University and Research institutions for research and extension services.
• Community-level monitoring of the food and nutrition schemes need to be encouraged in co-ordination with the Government line departments and other key stakeholders.
• NGOs, CSO, INGOs, international donors, Agriculture University, CSR Foundations and UN agencies like UNICEF, FAO, UNDP, UNFPA, etc., need to play a more proactive role towards enhancing the food and nutritional security of poorest communities in the State.
• A coordinated approach involving political parties, NGOs, CSOs, corporates, local governance, donor agencies, UN agencies, CSR Foundations, etc., is essential. Identifying and mapping vulnerable communities, establishing grain banks, promoting nutritional education, and supporting sustainable climate resilient agriculture are all needed for long-term impact.
• Strict Regulation of Micro Finance companies by the Government. The current interest rates charged by thee Micro Finance companies range between 12-32% per annum.

By empowering local youth and women leaders, and sharing best practices, stakeholders can foster resilient communities, ultimately achieving Zero Hunger and Zero Malnutrition. This collaborative commitment is vital for sustainable, community-led improvements across tribal regions.

Case Story – 1

Sushma narrating the story so far:  On October 31, at around 10.30 am when the male members went out for grazing cattle and other work and the children had left for the school, Runu Majhi (one of the deceased) prepared mango kernel gruel. Before making the gruel she found it has developed some fungus and she fried in a pan and then made the gruel. She called other women of the family to eat, when it tasted sour they mixed some sugar in it. After two hours Runu and Ramita complained stomach pain and started vomiting. Few hours later, others also developed the same symptoms and started vomiting and had loose motions. It did not stop for the entire day and night.

During the wee hours of November 2, the male members called ambulance and took Runu Majhi to nearby Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Brahmanigoan, 9 km from their village. The doctor at Brahmani Goan referred her to Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati (MKCG), Berhampur. Multiple-organ failure has been reported from the victims. Other women were also taken to MKCG hospital in a vehicle hired by the villages. The families mobilized the travel amount from friends and local money lenders. Both Runu Majhi and Ramita Majhi died at MKCG medical college and hospital while Jita Majhi and Tuni Majhi were shifted to SCB Medical College, Cuttack, when their condition started deteriorating. Their health condition is critical and they are under observation. Drengalo Majhi is still being treated at MKCG while other three members Sushma Patmajhi, Prabhati Patmajhi, Jibanti Majhi returned home.

“Because there was nothing to eat at home we ate mango kernel”– Sushma. 

Case Story – 2

Anil Patmajhi, a 26-year-old from the Kondh tribe, lives with his family of seven, which includes his wife Ramita, father Kupisa, mother Direngula, one sister, and their two young children – a three-year-old son and a six-month-old daughter. He possesses less than two acres of agricultural land and about three acres of forest land recognized under the Forest Rights Act. Anil’s paddy production sustains the family for approximately six months, but their primary source of income stems from daily wage labour and seasonal migration. Last year, Anil migrated to Ernakulum (Kerala) for one year, earning around Rs. 9,000 per month. However, he has not migrated this year. On his forest land, he grows maize, turmeric, and various pulses.

Anil faces challenges with the Public Distribution System (PDS); only four family members are listed on their PDS card, which includes Anil, his father, mother, and sister. Despite being married in 2018, Ramita’s name has yet to be added to this card, even after several attempts. The family received PDS rations of 60 kg of rice for three months. The last PDS distributed in the month of July.  In the past year, they have been collecting their rations from Brahmunigoan, which is about eight kilometers away, incurring transportation costs of around Rs. 80 for the journey to carry the rice back to their village. Anil mentions that the 60 kg of rice lasts only 15 days, as they consume rice three times daily in a family of 4 members. Daily wage labour in their area pays Rs. 200. With this income, Anil buys rice from the market, which costs between Rs. 40 to Rs. 45 per kg. He has worked only three days under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and earned Rs. 600, working under his brother’s job card. Unfortunately, his job card has had no recorded entries. Anil’s father mortgaged their land in 2005 for a loan of Rs. 12,000, which Anil was only able to pay off last year through earnings from seasonal migration. He applied for assistance under the Subhadra Yojana on September 11 but has yet to receive the first instalment. The period from July to October is particularly challenging for the family, marked by severe food insecurity. To cope, they turn to foraging for roots and tubers in the forest and making gruel from mango kernels. Typically, they mix the mango kernel gruel with rice to help fill their stomachs. On the fateful morning, after all the male family members had gone to work in the fields, the six women in the household consumed mango kernel gruel. Tragically, Anil’s wife Ramita passed away in Berhampur hospital, while his mother is now critically ill in SCB Cuttack. Anil’s father, Kupisa, is in Cuttack, providing support to his wife, Direngula. Anil spent Rs. 7000 in taking his wife’s dead body from Berhampur to his village. Now the six months of kid is taken care by his sister and feeding packaged milk. This is a heartbreaking tale of a small farmer grappling with severe poverty and chronic hunger. The mango kernel gruel serves as a desperate coping mechanism, one that is repeated annually, sometimes with fatal results due to the toxic nature of improperly prepared mango kernels.

Suggestions

1. It is essential that all family members in the village are included on the Public Distribution System (PDS) card.
2. The PDS rations should be distributed on a monthly schedule and made accessible within close proximity to the villages.
3. Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) centers ought to offer care and provide baby food for baby of Anil and other children under 5.
4. Initiatives for land development on forest lands should be implemented under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) to enhance production and productivity.
5. Livelihood opportunities that utilize forest resources should be supported for small and marginal farmers.
6. Promoting livestock-based livelihoods could serve as an additional source of income.
7. It is crucial to identify all families that are particularly vulnerable individuals and families in the district.
8. Food stock should be maintained (food storage infrastructure like Ware houses and Cold storage) at the Gram Panchayat (GP) level to assist vulnerable families during periods of food scarcity and hunger months.
9. There should be 100 days of work under the MGNREGS during the food stress period.
10. There should be GO-NGO collaboration and quarterly meetings for better co-ordination of development and humanitarian aid work in the district.
11. Local NGOs, INGOs, CSR Foundations, UN agencies, civil society groups and other donors should dovetail their programme activities in synchronization with the Government interventions.
12. PRI members need to play a proactive role for better co-ordination with the Block and District administration, local NGOs and other developmental actors.
13. Media should play a constructive and proactive role in highlighting the issue and mobilizing support from all quarters.

Glossary

BPL: Below Poverty Line

CBO: Community Based Organization

CPR: Community Property Resources

EWS: Early Warning Systems

FGD: Focused Group Discussion

ICDS: Integrated Child Development Scheme

KCC: Kisan Credit Card

KVK: Krishi Vikas Kendra

MDM: Mid Day Meals

NABARD: National Bank for Agriculture Development

NGO: Non Government Organization           

NDC: Nationally Determined Contributions

NMSA: National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture

NFSA: National Food Security Act

NTFP: Non Timber Forest Products

OLM: Odisha Livelihoods Mission

ORMAS: Odisha Rural Marketing Agency Society

OSDMA: Odisha State Disaster Management Authority

PDS: Public Distribution System

POSHAN: Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nourishment

PMGKY: Pradhan Mantri Gram Vikas Kalyan Yojana

RKVY: Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana

SBI: State Bank of India

TDCC: Tribal Development Cooperative Corporation of Odisha Ltd

UNICEF: United Nation’s Children Fund

UNDP: United Nation’s Development Programme

UNFPA: United Nation’s Population Fund

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