HVRDC condemns denial of 2019 drought relief
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, April 16 2024:
Hills and Valley Relief Demand Committee (HVRDC) on Tuesday condemned the state government's apathy towards the suffering of the 2019 drought-affected families; while cautioning of complaining to the Ministry of Home Affairs if the state does not release the relief assistance.
A release jointly issued by HVRDC president P Gaichungpou and secretary L Tomba Singh recounted that the state government had declared drought in the year 2019 and after assessing the field report, submitted proposal for grant of relief assistance to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Subsequently, the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) sanctioned relief assistance of Rs 26.53 crore vide order no 13(l)FCD/2019(Pt) dated 27/05/2020, it informed.
The Relief and Disaster Management, government of Manipur had accorded administration approval and expenditure sanction for the same (NC-202/1/2024-RDM dated March 17, 2023), it continued.
It claimed that although the minister concerned has assured release of the relief assistance at the earliest possible time, the state government is withholding the already sanctioned and approved relief assistance for several months even after the matter was raised in the second session of the State Legislative Assembly in 2023, it mentioned, reiterated that the organisation will approach the MHA for immediate redressal of the pending issue, if the government continues to ignore the same.