Imphal, Dec 23 : Manipur’s famine hit Churachandpur district has overshadowed the Christmas mood of the Christians here in this Kuki-Chin-Zomi communities dominated district.
Most parts of the district had been hit by the famine like situation after the rodent attacked the standing crops as well as the granaries in the wake of large scale bamboo flowering.
A total of 16,050.13 hectares of cultivated land was damaged and 1,03,558 persons from 14,307 families in 264 villages in the district bordering Myanmar and Mizoram affected as per district administration report quoted by Co-ordinating Mautam Famine Aid.
When bamboo flowers, famine, death and destruction follow.
Rats multiply at a very rapid pace after eating the protein-rich seeds that appear soon after bamboo flowering.
When the seeds are exhausted, armies of rats chomp their way through other food grains, causing a famine.
“As the Christian dominated district of Churachandpur is already on its festive mood, it is pertinent to mention that majority of the people remains haunted by the dreaded Mautam famine they have suffered” Zomi Economic Planning and Development Agency (ZEPADA) said in a release, adding their worries have overshadowed the normal cheerful mood prevailing at this time of the year.
The Public suffering is compounded by the non-distribution of Mautam relief well on time by the government which they are endlessly waiting for.
Bamboo grows wild in 3691.77 sq.km of Manipur’s total geographical area of 22,327 sq km.
Locally known as Mautam, the bamboo flowering is concurrently affecting the contiguous areas of Mizoram as well.
ZEPADA also urged the FCI department on the 11th of this month for direct lifting of all famine related items from Dimapur to Churachandpur at least till the 3rd of December, it said.
Meanwhile, the DC Churachandpur said that all requisite amount of food had been accredited for procuring the rice, claimed the release.
However ZEPEDA questions Why relief material got delayed for so long? - Six months to release the fund and more than one month (and still waiting) to procure and distribute the food-grains, it questions.
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