Nobody died of starvation in last two years: Plan panel

NEW DELHI: The government today said nobody in the country has died of starvation or hunger in the past two years, as per the data available with it.

"As per the information received from the Department of Food and Public Administration, no state or Union Territory has reported any incidence of death due to starvation and hunger during the last two years," Minister of State for Planning Ashwani Kumar said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

He further said, "Besides, for tackling the problem of hunger in the country, the government has been providing foodgrains at subsidised prices to the targeted population through the states and Union Territories administrations under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) on (under) the Non-Plan (expenditure head)".

In his reply, the minister cited major programmes, including the rural employment guarantee scheme and food security mission, run by the government to eradicate poverty.