Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 06:
Painting a grim picture reports have come in that 85 percent of the 41 villages in Tamenglong district are running out of a food stock since the month of March.
This was informed by District Level Development Co-ordinating Team (DCT) Federation of the district in a statement.
According to DCT, the fact came to light during a door to door survey conducted by the federation in these 41 villages.
The DCT asserted that it was due to poor harvest in 2007 because of bamboo flowering in the district, Informing that villagers are currently depending on roots and wild leaves for survival, DCT said that starvation death cases may be reported soon if the Government does not take up necessary measures at the earliest.
Maintaining that State Legislative Assembly had passed a resolution to earmark funds for bamboo flowering areas, the federation asserted that nothing has reached the villages so far.
DCT also said that TPDS in the district is also not functioning beyond the district headquarters.
The DCT Federation, Tamenglong had also submitted a memorandum highlighting the grievances being faced by the people to Joint Secretary in the Union Ministry of Agriculture, Pankaj Kumar on May 4 last at Hotel Imphal.
Informing that swarms of locusts are also invading the district, DCT cautioned all to keep necessary vigil and keep enough food stuff as a famine is likely in the coming days.
Meanwhile Liangmei Naga Council, Tamei also informed in a press release highlighting the plight of the villagers of the area arising out of the bamboo flowering and locusts attack.
Conveying that food shortage is being faced in the area, LNC urged the authority concerned to take up necessary measures.
The council also urged the underground organisations not to harass and disturb the poor public at this critical juncture when starvation is facing them.