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CHURACHANDPUR, JANUARY 7: In the wake of five sub-divisions in Churachandpur district facing a famine threat due to an explosion in the rodent population brought in by bamboo flowering, the district administration is planning to use the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme to bring relief, following a PMO directive.
Employment under the Centre’s largest public welfare scheme will be allocated on a priority basis in areas affected by the bamboo flowering, said Churachandpur DC Sumant Singh. read more »
In continuation to the open discussion on Mautaam through SSPP Net, a small note of clarification on some of the comments made by the patrons on the stand of Mautaam.org is considered necessary.
As we all know, Mautaam or gregarious bamboo flowering, is an ecological phenomenon when the bamboo flowers, bears fruits, and dries up to give rise to new plants. The highly nutritious fruit from this plant has 50% starch content that enhances their fertility of rats that feed on it resulting in a tremendous sudden growth of its population. In the year the bamboo flowers, rats gave birth to over a dozen off-springs in a month and within a year the entire rodent population multiplies over a dozen time and begins to eat anything it can find. Usually the rats begin with rice plants. read more »
Survery Report
(Period of Survey 14-19 November, 2007)
The MHJU team –
- L. Chinkhanlian, President | Editor, Manipur Express
- Th. Thangzalian, Vice President | Editor, The Lamka Post
- Zohmingliana, Secretary | Editor, Chhanty
- Kh. Benlian Vaiphei, Editor, Nisin Thuhiltu
- S. Singlianmang Guite, Correspondent, The Sangai Express
- G. Muanthang, Correspondent, ISTV
- NT Sanga, Cameraman, Angel’s Vision
Extract from the Autobiography “Against All Odds” of Mr. H. Chinkhenthang, IAS (Retd.)
The word “Mau” means bamboo and “Taam” can mean drying or death in great numbers, or famine or scarcity. The combination of these two words – “Mautaam” can mean two different things namely, the mass dying of bamboos causing scarcity of it or, famine caused by or associated with the mass dying of bamboo. To me, the latter seems to be the more appropriate meaning. In the affected area bamboos flower, produce seed and die. The rat population multiplies wreaking havoc particularly on the paddy crop. A number of studies and research have been conducted to find out if there is any correlation between the flowering and seeding of bamboo and the increase in rat population, and to be specific, whether bamboo seeds cause super-fertility in rats and make them reproduce in hundreds or thousands. Though it is suspected that thee is some correlation between the two, so far no such link has been established. read more »
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