Notwithstanding the Orissa Government's claim that there were no starvation deaths in Kashipur block, the spectre of death looms large over far-flung villages in this remote hill- locked area of Rayagada district.

It is debatable whether the 19 deaths were due to starvation or consumption of contaminated food. But the fact remains that despite the Government's intervention during the last few days to mitigate the miseries of the people, acute poverty and hunger had been driving them to eating anything.

Seven persons had died in Panasaguda village after consuming a gruel made of mango kernel powder mixed with maize, while four succumbed after consuming the paste along with some wild mushrooms in Bilamala, according to official sources.

``But try to understand, it is not our staple food,'' says Gada Majhi, a village elder of Panasaguda, which is inhabited by Kondh tribals. ``We eat it out of destitution as the rice provided through our BPL (below poverty level) cards is too meagre. If we had enough rice or gram to consume, why should we turn to mango kernels,'' he said.

However, the District Collector, Mr. Bishnupada Sethi, said it was absurd to think the tribals ate this food out of compulsion. ``Didn't they eat mango kernel when the Orissa tribal development project was under implementation in Kashipur block financed by the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) and Rs. 19 crores was pumped in?'' he asked. Lack of personal hygiene, he pointed out, was one of the prime reasons for deaths of the tribals.

In Bilamal, Mr. Sethi said, the reason for the casualties was consumption of wild and poisonous mushrooms, not mango kernel. ``Shortages, destitution and exploitation by middlemen and money lenders can be there in such areas, but by no stretch of imagination can you term them starvation deaths,'' he added.

In Panasaguda village, where over 100 families lived, no one appears to have any work to do and hence no income.

The maize and other crops have failed this year due to heavy rains and without money it was not possible to buy rice for ourselves, Pusai Majhi, a 40-year-old woman with a sick baby in her arms, said.