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 or succumbing to
malnutrition.
