Imphal, February 08: Inspite of the fact that people living in Tipaimukh, Parbung, Thanlon, Singnat and Henglep sub-divisions of Churachandpur district are facing acute shortage of food as a fallout of the Bamboo flowering phenomena and the subsequent devastation caused to food crops by the multiplying rodent population, the State Government is yet to act and take up some immediate arrangement for providing food to the starving population.

Talking to The Sangai Express, Chief Minister in-charge Thoudam Debendra said shortage of food among the people living in Tipaimukh, Parbung, Thanlon, Singnat and Henglep sub-divisions of Churachandpur district as a result of the bamboo flowering and the devastation caused by rodents on available food crops has come to the knowledge of the Government.

In order to take stock of the situation prevailing there personally and decide necessary steps to be taken up for providing immediate relief to the affected people, the Deputy Commissioner of Churachandpur district has rushed to the area today morning, the Chief Minister in-charge informed.

Although the problem of bamboo flowering is also being confronted by the people in some parts of Tamenglong and Chandel district, the situation is more severe in Churachandpur district, he added.

While disclosing that around 5000 quintal of rice meant for Churachandpur district under the National Rural Employment Generation Scheme (NREGS) is still there, the Chief Minister in-charge said that the Government has taken up steps to distribute the rice to the people through the Food for Work programme of the scheme which guarantees jobs to the people for 100 days in a year.

Along with consulting the Deputy Commissioner for releasing half the quantity of the remaining rice for making the same available to the starving people, the State Government would also exert pressure on the Central Government for increasing the quantity of APL rice to be provided under the Disaster Management Plan, the Chief Minister in-charge disclosed.

On the other hand, information received from the FCS Department said that 10 kgs of rice under the APL, BPL and AAY schemes being made available to each of the affected families in Churachandpur district is not enough to contain the prevailing famine situation.

So efforts are being made to prevail upon the Centre for ensuring 30 kgs of rice to each affected families.

However, as of now, the State FCS Department has not taken up any immediate arrangement in this regard.

The Deputy Commissioner Churachandpur district as well as the SDO of the subdivision have left for the affected area to get a first hand account of the situation.

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