Patna, Oct. 12 : A poor community in Bihar’s Vashali district are forced to eat rats for survival.

Known as ''Mushars'' or ''Bhuyans'', the community in Sahdai block of Vaishali district is considered the lowest down the social strata.

There are almost 100 such families, who have not yet received any succour from the state government.

"Neither do we have a proper place to stay and food grains to survive, nor are we getting any. Our children are starving so we are eating rats," said Sohagiya Devi.

Due to unavailability of any school in the vicinity, children roam around in search of rats.

"We have no money to buy food. Even if we want to study, there is no facility of schools in our neighbourhood. Our only option is to survive on rats," said Dilip Kumar, a village boy.

The Musahars are among the most deprived and marginalised section of the society in Bihar.

In order to uplift the Mushar community, the Bihar government had planned to popularise the Rat meat last year. (ANI)