A report on suicide and malnutrition among
weavers in Varanasi was prepared by the People’s Vigilance Committee on
Human Rights in collaboration with ActionAid, an international
anti-poverty agency. It said that about 175 weavers fell prey to
financial hardships since 2002. The Economic Survey (2009-10) estimates
that over 50 per cent weavers’ children are malnourished. There is a
high prevalence of TB, particularly multi-drug resistant tuberculosis
(MDR-TB). The survey also said that while the human development index of
India is steadily improving, weavers and their children in Varanasi
continue to die either by committing suicide...
