Source: The Sangai Express / S Singlianmang Guite
Lamka, December 21 2008:
Towing on the national guidelines of relief materials, ZEPADA � a frontal organisation championing the economic owes of the people here, for long, has been maintaining that relief materials should not be delayed even for an hour.
But the Government still appears to care a little, as the relief materials were delayed not just by hours, but by weeks and months.
'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.
Their worries have overshadowed the normal cheerful mood prevailing at this time of the year.
Public suffering is compounded by the non-distribution of Mautam relief by the Government which they endlessly waited, said ZEPADA in a statement issued on Saturday.
In this regard the agency has claimed that it has made a request the FCI, yet it fails to comprehend why the Government has adopted such a casual attitude in delivering the relief materials.
'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 inquired.
And, in the face of such apathy, the existing PDS still remains to be the granaries of the power that be, alleged ZEPADA further.
Citing a recent instance where 100 quintals of rice each was awarded for every constituency through APL retail agents, ZEPADA said the agents have already submitted the utilization certificate for November 2008, whereas the public remained in dark regarding such distribution.
The agents have claimed in the UCs that the rice have been distributed before 15 December, 2008 .