Lamka, Mar 10: While most interior areas of Churachandpur district are reeling under famine since the year 2005 and the matter is time and again highlighted by NGOs and philanthropic organisations, the state government`s response to tide over the problems remain wanting.
Neither rice nor rehabilitation for the affected people are available despite the fact that Rs. 9.9 crores have been allocated for rodent control, relief resettlement and to check shifting cultivation in the bamboo flowering areas, according to sources.
While the DC of Churachandpur has been grappling with the situation with all the NREGS funds and facing the famine like situation thereby drawing public applause, the government on the other side has done nothing and no rice has been lifted from Imphal.
The Mautaam famine in Manipur presents a unique situation and it is the government`s duty to provide and moot a proposal for rehabilitation of the affected people. Now the poor men and women are willingly contributing his or her share of Centrally sponsored schemes (in this case 50 percent of NREGS) for rice, but the state government has done nothing.
The public of Churachandpur is against the government`s attempt to provide rice at an open market rate or APL rice from NREGS money, said the CDSU in a recent memorundum to the chief minister of the state O Ibobi Singh.
The CDSU has said in the open that this is an attempt to rob the poor man`s share of Centrally sponsored schemes, accusing the government of systematically planning to eliminate and sideline the Mautaam famine affecetd people.
It went on to say that the affected people deserved to be treated as poorest of the poor as they didn`t make a bountiful harvest since the year 2005 but the government`s attempt to categorise them above normal is something unacceptable.
The CDSU has warned the government of a stir in case the government fails to take up immediate measures to provide relief to the affected people.
| The Imphal Free Press |
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Famine relief sought from Centre, state guest house opened at Vellore`
IMPHAL, March 10: The chief minsiter, Okram Ibobi Singh clarified that the government has submitted a proposal to the governemnt of India for provision of relief measures to the famine affected people of Churachandpur district in a reply to a starred question raised by MLA, V Hangkhanlian.
The chief minister said his government has further requested the Centre for an additional monthly allocation of 8015 quintals of rice at BPL/APL rates, and the request, according to communications received, is under consideration.
As of now, part-payment of wages in kind (foodgrains) is being made by the DC in consultation with theRD&PR Dept under NREGS, the chief minist er said.
He also said improvement of infrastructure in the affected areas are being taken up to facilitate storage of foodgrains before the rainy season, his draft reply to the question further said.
There is however no provision for free distribution of rice and all disbursement of relief material would be a per the approval of the government of India, he said.
To another question the social welfare minister clarified to MLA, Th Nandakishore that the state government has opened a guest house in Vellore in Tamil Nadu specially for the benefit of patients from Manipur who go to the medical facilities there.
He said one officer on special duty, OSD, has already been posted at the guest house.
To another question by MLA Danny Shaiza on the details of the government school hostel constructed at Phungreithan, Ukhrul, the chief minister said the scheme is being executed by the DC Ukhrul through the headman, Ukhrul.
An amount of Rs 12.6 lakhs has already been drawn by the headman, and work is in progress with ground levelling completed and foundation work underway.
Answering MLA Dr Usham Deben, the chief minister said the state government has a policy for special incentive promotion for footballers of the Mani pur police team who bagged the 55th DN Mullik Memorial All India Police Football Championship in 2006.
He said these promotions would be made after duly considering the related recruitment rules which has a 15 percent quota for players who excelled themselves, as well as the vacancy situation.
| The Imphal Free Press |
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