It is a well-kept secret in Jharkhand. At least 320 people have died of starvation since 2004, out of which 100 last year alone.
Malnourished and unemployed, more families are on the brink of starvation. But the state neither acknowledges it, nor does it implement any of the schemes to tackle hunger.
Basanti Devi is severely malnourished and can barely speak. She has not had a proper meal for months. With no work, the family has borrowed some grain.
"There is nothing. We had to ask our neighbours," she said.
Etha is just 20 kms from the state capital Ranchi. Yet four years ago, Sumitra lost both her husband and son in a week's time to hunger. Jobless and ill, they starved and died.
To counter the adverse publicity, the state government gave the family Rs 10,000, which did not last long. Without a ration card, the family of four has no access to cheap grain and the next cycle of starvation has begun.
Starvation deaths have occurred across Jharkhand. Successive governments have made many promises, but few have been kept.
"Who decides that it is a starvation death? Not the government, so they go unreported," said Balram, a Right to Food campaigner.
But in the elections, in the midst of aggressive campaigning, voices like Basanti Devi's are mute.
