Office of the Committee On Mautaam Famine Aid Churachandpur, Manipur
Kipahthu Genna The 19th September, 2008
Hun haksatak kal ah CoMFA in chinglou tak leh phatuamngaihna liuliau a Mautaam kial thuakte leh hon thuak tou zel dingte khualna a nna sep honpat, tuni chiang dong Pathian ompihna leh mipite kithuahpihna toh paitou theizel ahihziakin in Abraham Pathian, Isak Pathian, Jacob Pathian leh Gilkial dangtaakte Pathian min I phat masa hi.
Pathian in a vualzawlna hon piak bangbangte COMFA tungtawna non piakhkhawmte uh thupi petmah hi. Huaiziakin, hiai Mautaam kial douna a hong kithuahpih aneu, alian, ateek akhang te teng teng tung ah COMFA kipak petmah a, na seenna te uh Pathian vualzawlna tamseem muhna hong hileh chih ka thumna uh ahi.
Pathian in hiai hun haksa taka adia Heutu hihna toh mohpuakna liantak a piak I Minister leh MLA te, muang mahmah a Special Appeal kipiate banah inn lusi a ngetna hong kibawlte thawnlou ahihmanin hiai newspaper-te tungtawnin KIPAHTHU kon geenthak thak uhi. Joseph Buhpang vuaksuaksaklou nou te na hi uhi.
Huailou in, Mautaam kial douna ding in Concert For the Hungry chih thupi a nei in concert kisai a, tua hun ah I phattuamngaihna ziak liuliau ua Pathian in ahon piak a vualzawlna (Lasiamna), music siamna tha-leh-zung te hiai hun a I zatkhiak theih na tung ah COMFA kipak petmah a, nou te siamna leh tempaina zat man na ngawn hon kipia zoulou a, tuisik nou khat lel nangawn leng hon kipia zou lou, a suahna tung ah kisuanlah huai petmah hi. Hiamahleh, Pathian in gentheite a dia na baanzakna te uh a thawn a hon koihsak louh, COMFA thumna ahi hi. Kial thuakte awlmohna toh amaute panpihna dia hiai Concert hong sponsore Aid Zomi Japan heutute tungah kipahna sousang lua hi. Physical arrangement a poimoh van tuamtaum hong khelsakte, a kaih khawmna a gari hong thohte leh sound lamteng mohpuakna hong laaksakte tungah leng CoMFA kipaak petmah hi.
Banah, Churachandpur District Shaktiman Owners Association in ahun hun a van, antang leh a dang dang kaihkhawm, nawn khawmna ding a kiphal tak a, Shaktiman a hon zatsak ziakin COMFA lungdam petmah hi. Pu Zarual in leng Imphal apan Pu.Mani Cheranamei, MP thoh antang teng Lamka hon puaktungsak hi. Antang leh van tuamtaumte kaihkhawmna a tha leh zung hong thoh Phatuamngai Pawlpi tuamtuam apan volunteerte tungah leng kipah thu I geen sengkei hi.
COMFA nasepna paitou zel in, Mautaam Relief Committee, Shillong, COMFA Delhi Front, etc ten leng Mautaam Kialpi thuakte panpihna nnasep neilel uh ahi chih a ki theih ziakin kipahhuai mahmah hi. Koi mun peuha om, mi kuapeuh in, I hihtheih dan chiat I suahkhawm chiangin, Kial thuakte lametna lianpi kiguan ahi chih I taaklang bawk hi.
Hiai banga I nasepte a poimoh bangbanga hong taaklatsak leh zathuap gige Media lamte kipiak zohna leh Kial thuakte a awlmohna uh thupi in phathuai kisa mahmah hi.
Mautaam Puuktaw,2008 leh Concert for the Hungry isai na a CoMFA tungtawna thilpiak honglut khawmte leh zatna( 18/09/08 tan in) anuai a bang ahi:
1. Sum hul a hong lut =Rs. 7.47 lakhs
2. Antang a hong lut = 820 bags( ½ bags & Full bags)
3. Puansilh –niikteen =10 bags
4. Wrist watch =1 nos.
5. Total Expenditures = Rs.3.76 lakhs
6. C/B = Rs. 3.71 lakhs
Tunitan in leng Kial panpihna mun tuamtuam apan honglut zawm zel hi. Khuta sum omte zangin anntang kilei dia, a leizoh zahzah leh tua kidongkhiate Sub-Division chiha Joseph Buhpangte ah kikoihin tuamun apan a poimoh diakte kianga hawmzak nawn ahi ding.
Aneu-alian, azawng-ahau, kuamah kisiitlou a I pankhawmnate I gamin a poimohzah laka 10% leng hikei mahleh Kial-thuakte adia zaangkhaina hongtuna Pathian in thupina a tan ding I thumna ahi. Hiai Mautaam Puuktaw nawkpi khatna zoh chianga maban bangchi sutzop ding chih geelkholhsa bangmah omkei mahleh, Pathian in tuhun adia heutu honpiakte leh Govt in pan naakzawsema hongla a Mautaam Kialpi I nawk paisuak I kilametna ahi.
Kial thuakte sikin,
Information and Publicity Division Committee on Mautaam Famine Aid, 2008
Sub: “SPECIAL KUDOS” TO THE HON’BLE CM & SPF MINISTRY.
Let us take this opportunity to congratulate our Hon’ble Chief Minister & the SPF Ministry for mastering the art of skirting public issues, including diversion of funds for all uses, other than the one sanctioned for. Such actions and inactions have made them become immune to genuine public issues. They never seem to consider anything worth their worthy attention, unless there are processions, bandhs, blockages, or JACs formed to make some drama! ‘Drama’ seems to be the culture that those who make up our government have taken to - like fish to water. Such a practice predicts a gloomy future for the state in general and, right now, in particular deep gloom for the people of an area in Churachandpur who are staring famine in the face!
Dear Editor/Readers, we are talking about a famine called Mautam, the natural phenomena peculiar to the region. Mautam is a 50-year cyclical visitation when bamboos flower, fructify, rodents begin to multiply and then eat up all food-grains and standing crops, leading to a famine.
The following is an account of how our government – the Government of Manipur State – has and is handling this crisis. People say they were and are sleeping. We say NO, because they were/are doing what they are good at, viz. -
1. Probably after taking a cue from the efforts and work of neighbouring Mizoram State (where Mautam is even more widespread) our State Government too, in their Annual Budget, 2006-07, earmarked Rs. 9.9 crores for combating bamboo flowering in the state. The above amount, as reported by The Sangai Express, dated 23rd October, 2006, was released by the Central Government in mid-October, 2006.
As per reports the Rs. 9.9 crores for combating bamboo flowering, as sanctioned for 2006-07 has been spent! This we call the SPF Government Drama.
The drama is that:
In May, 2008 the government generously distributed 4500 qtls. of relief rice and 94 kgs of rodenticides till date! Also one of the line departments in Churachandpur has claimed to have conducted quarterly survey of rodents, and that they distributed 10,550 kgs of rodenticides, 1,900 rat traps and a bounty for 25,000 rat tails @ Rs.2/- per tail, as on 29/3/2008.
- In spite of such tall claims, no villager has gone on record to say he got even a single gram of rodenticide! (Incidentally, the District Agriculture Department had estimated the rodenticide requirement for the district’s affected area as at least 8,700 quintals!)
- As for rat traps, the only rat traps to be found are the traditional ones, the mankhong!
- Regarding the bounty for rat tails, no villager from the affected areas got a single paise! Instead, what jolted and disgusted Manipur were the pictures of thousands of dried rat tails, splashed in colour, in The Sangai Express and Imphal Free Press in August, 2008. And these were just some samples displayed by the disappointed, helpless villagers of Khaukual, Tuikuimuallum and Lungthul (E) who had heard that Manipur too was offering Rs. 2/- per rat tail, while they knew Mizoram was actually buying up rat tails @ Rs. 5/- per tail from its villagers. This is one of the novel means of reducing the menace of rodent population, while increasing purchasing power!
We know the money has been spent. We do not know when and how, because the drama was not staged before the target people.
2. Everybody knows that bamboo flowering started in 2005 in the south-west corner of Churachandpur District and the rodent menace began by mid-2006. By 2007-08 the District Forest Department’s records showed that over 94.92% of the district’s bamboo growing area had flowered. The locals of the affected areas began to report that hordes of rats, that seemed to come from nowhere, started devouring their standing crops. Several of Churachandpur’s civil society organisations, fore-warned by tales of horror from elders who had experienced the last Mautam, sounded a Famine Alert, but to no avail.
Commendably, the media fraternity of the state, ranging from its two major English dailies, The Sangai Express and the Imphal Free Press, even the ISTV, along with all local media, spearheaded by the Manipur Hill Journalist Union, Churachandpur (MHJU), repeatedly highlighted the alarming situation. Their reports and interviews of affected people were supported by pictures of abandoned jhum fields and crops that had been damaged by rats attacking crops. Sensing the impending famine and disturbed by the government’s inaction, they went to the extent of conducting two independent surveys by September, 2008. But all such efforts were in vain, because the State Government did not even bother to document their reports, let alone acknowledge the impending calamity, though they had quietly and dramatically spent Rs. 9.9 crores that had been budgeted for combating bamboo flowering!
3. In sharp contrast to our State Government drama, a Central Inter-Ministerial Team - consisting of representatives from MHA, Food & Public Distribution, National Disaster Management, Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development - and led by Shri Pankaj Kumar, IAS, Jt. Secretary (MHA), came on 2nd & 3rd April, 2008 to survey the area for extent of damage. Their eyes were opened in horror and they left with a telling comment: ‘With or without Mautaam famine, the people are already living in extreme poverty conditions.’
4. As a result of the un-precedented MHA-led survey, the District Administration prepared an exhaustive Mautam Affected Report, 2008, based on 2007 crop production. (Due to lapses on the part of a concerned Sub-Divisional Officer this ground-breaking Report, failed to include the genuinely Mautam-affected Sangaikot TD Block of Churachandpur Sub-Division!!). In the main, the District Administration’s Report estimated a sum of Rs.19 crores for Mautam Relief for Churachandpur District and reportedly demands additional 8000qtls of rice per month over and above the existing PDS monthly quota.
5. Our dramatic State Government, using Churachandpur District’s pioneering Report called assessments from Tamenglong and Chandel districts, and then made demands to the Centre for a sum of Rs. 50 crores for Mautam Relief!
6. Consequent upon the MHA-led Central visit, and on the strength of their recommendation, the Central Government released a sum of Rs. 16.67 crores under CRF for Mautam Famine Relief during the month of June 2008.
7. It is significant to note that nothing was heard about the fund released by the Centre way back in June 2008, till September 5th, 2008, the day our Chief Minister had agreed to inaugurate the CONCERT FOR THE HUNGRY at Churachandpur. Appropriate to the unfolding drama, he did not come. But, typical of the drama culture it was publicly announced that Rs. 5.45 crores had been released by the Government of Manipur for Mautam Relief.
8. Not un-expectedly, our Chief Minister’s failing to grace the Concert, and inaugurate it, has sent some strong clear signals. For, as the head of the state - a part of which was facing an un-precedented Famine and the prospects of Death by Starvation - there seems to be only indifference and callousness! Hence the Pandora’s Box of Questions: Why has the SPF ministry taken over two months to release only 32% of what was sanctioned? What about the remaining Rs. 11.22 crores for Mautam Relief?
The reasons are best known to the SPF Ministry. There are, however, some talks doing the rounds, about the CM not daring to face the hungry public empty-handed, and that he waits for floods to take place in valley areas to divert funds!
9. The fact of the matter is that the ground situation has not improved, while the fates of the Hungry are getting worse with each passing day. Whereas, crores of rupees have done the dramatic “utilised-disappearing” act. Whereas, not a single family affected by bamboo flowering is rehabilitated! Whereas, not a patch of jhum land is found treated! Whereas, the government might claim to have taken preventive health measures, yet people are dying of famine-related disease in Tipaimukh and Thanlon areas! In short, what we, the people of Churachandpur, fear is another dramatic twist to rat tales and crores! That must never happen. One way to discourage that is for the previous utilization to be made transparent, with heads rolling if need be.
REALITY CHECK: The first thing to realise is that we are just about in the middle of the scourge of Mautam. Its impact on the people of the affected areas has been noticed but the worse is yet to come. Its impact upon those of us who live in well-connected urban centres is that of occasional contributions in cash and kind, and the little effort of lending a sympathetic ear. These, however, would not do if Mautam hits the areas a degree harder, only because the counter measures and mechanisms were not put in place.
The civil societies of Churachandour are making a small noise, asking for the mechanisms to be put in place, while trying to put as many shoulders to the wheel, before, God forbid, any starvation or neglect deaths take place!
SUGGESTIONS TO THE CM & SPF MINISTRY TO EARN REAL ‘KUDOS’: The needs of the hour are:
(i) Emergency relief rice should be send immediately.
(ii) Our State Government must immediately come out with an independent policy on Bamboo Flowering and Famine Combat, and not depend – at the last minute - on whatever our rattling begging bowls will get from the Central Government.
(iii) A Mautam Special Task Force (MSTF), comprising of government experts and a few of our involved local NGOs, to go and study the experience and steps taken by the Government of Mizoram, mainly because Mautam in their state is a bigger issue, and most of the areas affected in Manipur adjoin their affected areas.
(iv) The construction of an FCI Godown, and its stocking to full capacity in Churachandpur town, before the year 2008 ends.
(v) The construction of appropriate-sized FCS Godowns in all the Sub-Divisional HQs of the affected areas, along with their stocking.
(vi) Capacity building at the remote areas through Units under the MSTF so as to give confidence to the local communities in the affected areas, and not in district HQs or the state capital!
(vii) While awaiting recommendations and implementation of the Report of the MSTF, Mautam related counter-measures, like modified granaries, can be constructed under the NREGS.
(viii) The existing VGBs as well as additional VGBs( 105+99 nos) sanctioned by the Central government should be implemented immediately.
(ix) Lastly, absolute transparency, in the way every single rupee of the publicly announced Rs. 5.54 crores is being utilized.
Sir, Mautaam is serious, very serious. The SPF Ministry also claims to be serious. We all shall know how sincere they are in a very short time, through real steps taken in rodent control, rehabilitation of the affected people and Famine Relief reaching where most needed, and so on.
It is not difficult to earn real kudos. The HUNGRY, and all of us on the sidelines, have hands raised ready to burst out clapping. But, beware the raised hands!
For and on behalf of the HUNGRY public, Sd/-
Khantouhna ichih kipumkhatna (unity) omlou in om thei ngeilou ding hi. Zomite i khantouh dan ua kipan in pankhawm dan siamte ihi uh chih gen gen ngailou in kilang mai hi. Pangkhawm dan siamlou te ahih leh mimawl, hai belbul, mahni thu lou thu salou, ST dia le ST diakte khong ahi uh. A khangtou Zomi ten mautaam gal I dou lel lel uh a hiai tawh kisai in Zomi thupil I theih ding ua hoih khat ahih leh Vompi thugen “Tangval sagih sangin unau kituak nih ka lau zaw” chih ahi. Galdou i chih mawk (stubbornly) a dou ding ahi kei ahi. Panmun leh pan dingdan (strategy ) hoihtak a khoh ahih kei leh vual lelh theih ahi. Ban ah kihanthawnna (motivation/encouragement) leh pankhawm siamna (good combination) bangle pawimoh mahmah ahi hi. Hiai teng teng ban ah vual tung tuang dingsa a kikoihna lungsim (positive attitude/confidence) pu kawm a gal kap kiphamoh hi. Adang a poimoh mahmah ahih leh “I melma kua ahia?” chih chih theih chet ahi. Hiai gal ah i melma “Mautaam” ahi zenzen kei a “zusa” leng ahi kei ahi. Hiai gal a i melma ahih leh “kial” ahi. Tamtak ten I gam uah kial tungkhin/tungta dan in i koih uh a hiai pen vuallel sa dan a kikoihna ahi. Zogam ah kial a tung nai kei. Atamzaw ten bangmah thei kei mah le hang 2005/2006 a kipan Zomi khenkhat ten kial gal ana douta uhi (Eg Mautaam.org, Japan Zomite, ZCF, Angel’s Place, leh adg adg). Tu in Mautaam ziak in Zogam ah kial hong tung petmah ding bangta hi. Zomi-Zotaten hiai kial a hong tun louhna ding a “mautaam gal” dou ihi uhi. Mautaam, zusa, nekguk, mahni angma sialna i chihte i melma uh (kial) sepaihte ahi uhi.
Huailou theih ding a hoih mahmah khat ahih leh gamdang a kipan panpihna imuh te uh ek a pawt ding ngen ahi a, ZEPADA leh COMFA ten strategy hoihtak (long term & short term) i gam ua kial himhim a om louhna ding leh Zogam a Economic Development hoihtak a hong tun na ding in pan honla le uh deih huai mahmah hi. Panpihna kai khawm ding a “khutdoh organisation” hizaw lou a Zogam a kial himhim om nawnlouh na ding a “kial dou organisation” a hong hih uh I lam en uh ahi. Siam na lam a amite makaih thei ding IES (Indian Economics Service) bang, Agriculture,Forestry leh Ecology & Environment lam a siamna sang pipi nei bang leh Mautaam ziak a lou a piang omlou ahih leh khutsiam sil bawl tuam tuam a kitou delh thei ding a amite makaih thei ding Zomite tampi i om uh ka gingta ahi. Hiaite “kial” douna a General rank piak a, a siamna uh leh a pil nate uh gam-le-nam a dia zat ding dan ahi.
Zomi te i khang tou mahmah ta ua, hiai kial douna ding in galthuam chikim i nei uh ahi. Strategy lampang i siam nak ua ahih leh Zogam ah kial a tun na ding thu himhim a om kei ahi.
Galkap chiang in kuapeuh in mohpuakna (responsibility) anei chiat uh ahi. Ban ah pankhawm siamna (good combination) bangle poimoh mahmah hi. Panmun hoihtak luahna ding in khat akisak/kuankhiak a ngai a adang ten ana thuap (cover firing) uh bang angai zel ahi. Galkap lai a kikhen khak ichih bang vuallelh gau ahi hi. Mautaam gal ah leng mohpuakna i nei chiat uh ahi. Saptuam makai te, MLA leh Ministerte, pawlpi tuamtuam te, leh Zomi milip tengteng in mohpuakna i nei chiat uh ahi. Galdou lai a ki siosel leh ki muanmoh tuah chihte khawng vual lelh gau ahi.
Liandou leh Thanghou te unau ki iit bang a ki iit dingte, Phualva nupa ki iit bang a ki iit dingte Zosuan te ihi uhi . Mautaam ziakin gam-le-nam a ding a pan theih na hunlem (opportunity) a om ahi. Hiai hunlem ah na gam, na nam a ding in tha sia het lou in pang in. Hichi bang a gam-le-nam a ding a pantheihna hunlem(opportunity) om meng meng lou ahi. Unau gal (1997/1998) lai a bunker a ana tut khak maimai bang ki sak theih pih luat a om in chin vengsung khawng a i vak chai le “Ash, hiai te humbit nang a sihngam a ana pang hing a” chia kisak theihna lian tak ki nei mawk ahi. Hiai bang kisak theihna (pride) pen nuam a nuam mawk gen khiak theihlouh thil ahi.
Awle mautaam gal tawh kisai in anuai a tangthu te apan zillai i nei thei uam i en himhim ding uh.
Unity is Strength
Once upon a time, there was a flock of doves that flew in search of food led by their king. One day, they had flown a long distance and were very tired. The dove king encouraged them to fly a little further. The smallest dove picked up speed and found some rice scattered beneath a banyan tree. So all the doves landed and began to eat.
Suddenly a net fell over them and they were all trapped. They saw a hunter approaching carrying a huge club. The doves desperately fluttered their wings trying to get out, but to no avail.
The king had an idea. He advised all the doves to fly up together carrying the net with them. He said that there was strength in unity.
Each dove picked up a portion of the net and together they flew off carrying the net with them. The hunter looked up in astonishment. He tried to follow them, but they were flying high over hills and valleys. They flew to a hill near a city of temples where there lived a mouse who could help them. He was a faithful friend of the dove king.
When the mouse heard the loud noise of their approach, he went into hiding. The dove king gently called out to him and then the mouse was happy to see him. The dove king explained that they had been caught in a trap and needed the mouse’s help to gnaw at the net with his teeth and set them free.
The mouse agreed saying that he would set the king free first. The king insisted that he first free his subjects and the king last. The mouse understood the king’s feelings and compled with his wishes. He began to cut the net and one by one all the doves were freed including the dove king.
They all thanked the mouse and flew away together, united in their strength.
Zillai : “Government a panpihna imuh te uh kituak tak a pangkhawm in bawhzui le hang kial a kipan i suakta ding uh ahi. Huan ah heutu ten ki pumpiak tak in angma sial nate (selfishness) omlou in ma kai le uh suahtakna i mu ngei ding uh ahi.”
The Ass Carrying the Image
AN ASS once carried through the streets of a city a famous wooden Image, to be placed in one of its Temples. As he passed along, the crowd made lowly prostration before the Image. The Ass,thinking that they bowed their heads in token of respect for himself, bristled up with pride, gave himself airs, and refused to move another step. The driver, seeing him thus stop, laid his whip lustily about his shoulders and said, “O you perverse dull-head! it is not yet come to this, that men pay worship to an Ass.”
Zillai: I gam a ding a I sepkhiak te uh ‘mahni ki thupit sak na” ding in zang kei ni uh. Huan ah midang sep khiak sa a pan in pahtawina suhsak( taking credit from other’s achievement/work) kei ni uh.
The Oxen and the Axle-Trees A heavy wagon was being dragged along a country lane by a team of Oxen. The Axle-trees groaned and creaked terribly; whereupon the Oxen, turning round, thus addressed the wheels: “Hullo there! why do you make so much noise? We bear all the labor, and we, not you, ought to cry out.”
Zillai : A semtam penpen te a pau/phun tawm pente ahi uh.
The Lioness
A controversy prevailed among the beasts of the field as to which of the animals deserved the most credit for producing the greatest number of whelps at a birth. They rushed clamorously into the presence of the Lioness and demanded of her the settlement of the dispute. “And you,” they said, “how many sons have you at a birth?’ The Lioness laughed at them, and said: “Why! I have only one; but that one is altogether a thoroughbred Lion.”
Zillai : “Organisation tampi om sang in khat kia himah leh Sahang bang a muan huai neih hoih zaw hi”
“Sahang mei hih sang a zohngeu lu hih ut zaw te hih sawm kei ni uh.”
The Dancing Monkeys
A PRINCE had some Monkeys trained to dance. Being naturally great mimics of men’s actions, they showed themselves most apt pupils, and when arrayed in their rich clothes and masks, they danced as well as any of the courtiers. The spectacle was often repeated with great applause, till on one occasion a courtier, bent on mischief, took from his pocket a handful of nuts and threw them upon the stage. The Monkeys at the sight of the nuts forgot their dancing and became (as indeed they were) Monkeys instead of actors. Pulling off their masks and tearing their robes, they fought with one another for the nuts. The dancing spectacle thus came to an end amidst the laughter and ridicule of
the audience.
Zillai: “Gam-le-nam iit dan a kibawl himah leh “sum-le-pai bia/mai a tai sia” te hih sawm kei ni uh”.
The Eagle and the Arrow
AN EAGLE sat on a lofty rock, watching the movements of a Hare whom he sought to make his prey. An archer, who saw the Eagle from a place of concealment, took an accurate aim and wounded him mortally. The Eagle gave one look at the arrow that had entered his heart and saw in that single glance that its feathers had been furnished by himself. “It is a double grief to me,” he exclaimed, “that I should perish by an arrow feathered from my own wings.”
Zillai : “I sum-le-pai, tha-le-zung sen/thoh te uh ei-le-ei kal a siatna tun tu hithei ahi chih thei ni in pilvang ni uh.”
Zomi ten mautaam gal a vual tungtuanna laa i sak chikchik chiang un Zogam ah kial(hunger) chih himhim a om nawn kei ding a Zodawn ah khantouhna lian tak a hong tung ding a “Zogam nuam heisa bang in hong paal hen” i chih chih uh tuang hong tung ahita ding hi.
BANG CHIDAN ALE???? Mautaam ichih Zomi te a ding a ‘National Crisis” ahi a, himahleh tuni tan in Zomi Council hiam ZRO chihte a pan hiai tawh kisai zak ahi kei. BANG CHIDAN A LE???
Imphal, September 15, 2008:Mizoram’s nightmare has come to haunt Manipur. Famine stalks around 265 villages in Churachandpur district, bordering Mizoram, where the flowering of a particular form of bamboo has spelt devastation.
This species, Melocanna Baciferra, (known in Mizoram as mautam, or the ‘bamboo of death’) flowers only once in 48- 50 years, but when it does, the consumption of those flowers greatly increases the fertility of rats. Armies of rats then invade the fields and eat up the standing crop as well.
Mizoram, which was expecting the impending calamity, has been tackling it valiantly for the past year, but unprepared Churachandpur’s villages have lately been reduced to starvation. Around 16,000 acres of standing crop have been damaged, affecting over 1 lakh people, according to the district administration.
“Though the centre has sanctioned Rs 16.9 crore for relief, none of it has reached the district,” said K. Moi, Secretary, Zomi Economic Planning and Development
Unceasing rain and landslides have compounded the problem. “Parts of the district have been cut off from the rest of the county, and relief cannot reach,” said Moi.
The last such famine — and the callous neglect of the famine stricken — in the early 1960s sparked off insurgency in Mizoram, with the Mizo National Famine Front, originally an NGO working for the victims, transforming itself, in 1964, into the Mizo National Front (MNF) and demanding independence. The conflict ended 22 years later when the Rajiv Gandhi-Laldenga accord was signed in 1986.
STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES ON THE EVOLUTION OF “COMMITTEE ON MAUTAAM FAMINE AID (COMFA)” DELHI FRONT
1. Mautaam famine hit most parts of Churachandpur District and some parts of Tamenglong and Mizoram State since 2006. The famine worsened in 2008 with no signs of abating in the immediate future owing mainly to crop failure caused by rodents and extreme weather vagaries. The steps taken by the Government authorities so far, were starkly insufficient and inadequate to meet the daily needs of famine victims in the said areas.
2. The Zomis, Brethren and well wishers in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) are deeply concerned over the plight of their people in the famine-hit areas. Relief offerings were collected by a few Churches for distribution within the confines of their own Church network. A few individual initiatives were also noticed collecting relief in cash/kind. In the absence of organized community/social based mass mobilization for the purpose, such relief collections were too meagre for the needs, and below expectations from the Capital City of Delhi and NCR.
3. The Delhi Front of “Committee on Mautaam Famine Aid” (COMFA) formed on September 6, 2008 in the emergency meeting of the Delhi Working Group of Zomi Economic Planning and Development Agency (ZEPADA), the Delhi Cell of Zomi Students Federation (ZSF) and the Delhi Chapter of Zomi Human Rights Foundation (ZHRF) is intended to deal the following issues :-
(1). Mass Mobilisation of Famine Relief Aid among the Zomis etc. in Delhi and the NCR. (2). Mobilisation of Famine Relief Aid among individuals/agencies/ organizations in Delhi and the NCR. (3). Mobilisation of Famine Relief Aid from hitherto unknown sources & places (4). Channelisation of existing relief aids for effective delivery to the victims (5). Identification and follow up of Government Schemes which may help-meet the relief needs of famine victims.
(4) The Delhi Front of COMFA will be linked with the COMFA, Lamka, Churachandpur District, Manipur in the distribution of relief aid.
The COMFA, Lamka was formed in 2008 to organize mass mobilization of relief aids in Manipur state and distribute them to the famine victims through “Joseph granaries” being opened in the entire Sub-division of Churachanpur district.(The Joint Appeal dated the 23rd August, 2008 by all the leaders of apex bodies of the entire District of Churacahndpur is attach).
(5) On the 10th September, 2008 office bearers of COMFA, Delhi Front were formed as below:
Chairman: Pu V.Naulak Vice-Chairman : Dr Chinkholal Thangsing Secretary : Pu G. Swan Za Lian Joint Secretary: Pu T.Zamlunmang Finance Secretary: Cdr Lalsuonglien Tonsing Treasurer:Pu N.Neihsial
MEMBERS
Pu Philip Thanglienmang Pu K.Ginkhanthang Pu L.Thang Sian Mung Pu Phungchinthang Guite Pu Nehzamang Simte Pu Kh Ginlal Chung
+Nominees of ZEPADA, Delhi Working Group, ZSF, Delhi Cell and ZHRF Delhi Chapter.
(6) The following guidelines have been adopted regarding mautaam famine related activity among the Zomis in Delhi and NCR:-
(i) Relief collection done or undertaken by any Church/Christian Fellowship in Delhi is beyond the purview of COMFA, Delhi Front.
(ii) COMFA, Delhi Front appreciates the existing mautaam famine aid collection system initiated transparently, for instance www.mautaam.org.
(iii) All recognized social bodies among the Zomi Community in Delhi and NCR are requested kindly to inform the COMFA, Delhi Front, if they were desirous to undertake the noble cause of mautaam famine related activity, in the interest of mutual co-operation.
(iv) COMFA, Delhi Front does not encourage individual collection of mautaam famine aid without accountability to any established social organization among the Zomi Community.
Issued in public interest by COMFA, DELHI FRONT
T. Zamlunmang Zou Joint Secretary COMFA, Delhi Front
June 2006 a Lamka ka phak nung July 2008 in Lamka ka pha ahi. I khopi uh ana khang tou mahmah a lamdang bang sak in om zozen hi. Thauging bang om mah mah lou. Pavement/foothpath kibawl a huaiten lamlian te bang su lian tuan mahmah hi. Tedim Road Lailam lei lak leh Damkam bazaar lak bang nidang a asuk-atou i chih a phei chih in omta hi. Hiai munte ah lampi feet 3 vel a suksang in om hi. Hiai lampi mam pikpek te ah gari nalh taktak te ki khoh zat zat ua khopi et lawm sak mahmah uhi. New Bazaar Bus Parking junction vuah zuk chiang in a ngeingei himah leh a parking namun pen buannawi theilou ding in cement a plaster threpthrap in om hi. A huih vot hiuhiau leh a gam etlawm na su mawi tu hichi bang khantouhna (development) i gam ua a hong tun touh zel in tuh 2020 AD chiang in Lamka tuh khopi thupi tak leh mi te gentham khopi nuam ahong hingei ding in ka gingta ahi. J
Tulai in mautaam ziakin gamdang ten i gam uh a nopna te leh a hauh nate a thei lou in ‘kial’ tunna gam dan a atheih pen uh poi mahmah hi. Kial tunna gam i chih gam zawng, nekguk-takguk omna gam leh galmuanlouh na gam te kia ahi. Kial/famine chih thumal ka zak chiangin africa gam a naupang mit lian lelu, san a san, a pumpi sanga a lu lian zaw gawng ginggeng ka mit kha in ka mu zel ahi. Eigam a naupang - Siampu hiam Niangboi hiamte - huchi bang a kial ziak a gawng ding in ka koih thei mah mah kei ahi. Lamka leh khopi tuamtuam a Zomi te niang-le-tai a om dia singtang dawn a omte kial-le-tak a om ding chih pen om thei ding in ka koih kei himhim ahi. Zomi te phualva nupa ki iit bang a ki iit te ihi uhi.
1950’s a mautaam om masak lai in bel i gam uah kial ana tung hi. Huai hunlai in Tedim road bang gan zawi,bawng lampi mah bang ding in ka koih ahi. Huai hunlai a kial tung petmah ahih dan nu-le-pa te a pan zaak in om hi. Nek-le-taak lam ah lou a piang - haichi,buh-le-baal te ah kinga hithet uhi. Lou a piang te mautaam zusa in a hon nekpih chiangin a khamkhop ding uh omlou in gamlak a hakaai peuh tou in nekding neilou in om uhi. A gen chiang un hakai thuk pipi feet 5/6 tan a thuk bang a toh zoh nung unle khamkhop le hilou khuttum chia phet bang a ngah hun uh om ahi chi uhi. Hakai tawhna khuk a gilkial ziak a lung am a kipuk a si bangle om chi uhi. Huchia hakai nangawn haksa ahih chiang in Assam gam khawng leh Silchar lak khawng ah antang seng in va pua uh a, ninih-nithum bang khe a pai in innkuan pihte a ding antang seng in va paw zel uhi. Ann nek chia le gilvah a le ne ngamlou, taamnem na di lel khawng a ne ahih tuak uhi. Government in a haksatna uh theih pih lou , amau mahmah in leng government kiang a panpihna nget theih ahih lam le ana phawklou uh hihtuak hi.
Tun 2008 mautaam a hong tung pet mah ta hi. Himah leh tu in imi-isa te ngoihngoih, i haksatnate hon tangkou pih ding leh government scheme hoihtak tak te sem khe ding MLA leh Minister bang i nei uhi. Amaute ban ah government nasem District level officer banah Khopi tuamtuam a om gam-le-nam itt sepna hoih taktak leh mun poimoh taktak a tu hunkhop inei uhi. Hiai teng ban ah gam-le-leh nam a ding mawngmawng organisation hat taktak bangle i nei uhi. 2008 mautaam ziaka “kial” a tun lailai a ahih leh zusa i ngoh thei nawn kei ding uh ahi. Kial a tung hial a ahih leh a tung sak tu tuh zusa hilou in hiai a tung a ten a mohpuakna uh a zohlouh ziak ua tung ahi zaw ding ahi.
Five years plan nuai ah NREGS a om ahi. Hiai scheme Feb 2, 2005 a introduced ahi a India pumpi ah 2006 a impliment himah leh Manipur ah 2007 a kipan impliment ahita hi.Lamka leh a sehvel a i vaak a ahih leh veng chih ah “constructed under NREGS’ chih muh ding tam mahmah hi.Hiai scheme nuai ah nasem ding inkuan a mikhat nitha Rs.80.40 (Mizoram ah tamzaw) piak in kum khat in ni 100 (100 days) kilawh thei uhi. Five years plan ahih dungzui in hiai pen kum 5 sung i.e, 2007 - 2012 tan ding ahi. Hiai te ban ah Indian government in 25th December 2000 a a puankhiak himah leh Manipur a 2002 a kipan ki implement Antyadaya Anna Yojana (AAY) nuai ah khakhat in antang Kg 35 tan @RS 3/Kg in BPL card holder ten muh theih hi (Tamilnadu government in @ Re 1/Kg in pia). Hiai teng a kipan calculation bawl zek le hang kum khat in inkuan khat in antang Kg 2680 bang lei thei ding uhi. NREGS leh PDS lou leng scheme tuam tuam leh loan tuam tuam omlai hi. Zogam thuthang a hong ki suah Power Minister in “Mautaam ziakin kuamah a si kei ding” a chih dik mah mah mawle. CRF fund Rs.16.6 crore zat se louh in le a si omkei leh kilawm mawle.
2008 Mautaam pen 1950’s a mautaam tawh a teh theih nawn kei ahi. Nam-le-gam itt tu tamtak ten panpihna lam chi tuamtuam leh mun tuamtuam aki pan kai khawm in i dou uh ahi. Hiai tung tang ah gal matawng a pang ZEPADA,COMFA leh mimal tuamtuam panpihna kaikhawm te pahtawina liantak i pia uh ahi. I gam uah kum 50 nung in khantouhna lian tak a om a huaiziak in khopi lam akipan in singtang dawn tung ding antang seng a puak ngai nawn lou in gari in a tun theihta ahi. Zomi te vaphual nupa ki iit bang a ki iit te ihih na uah Lamka hiin khopi tuamtuam a om ten singtang dawn a te kial-le-tak a om ding ngai ngamlou in pan theih dan dan a pan la in 2008 mautaam tuh i dou uh ahi. Khopi a ten ” Nikhat a ann nihvei ka nek lai siah Zogam ah kial a tung kei ding” chi a hanchiam in a pawimoh leh Zogam a kial a tunlouh na dia nikhat a ann khatvei ne ding khop hial a kimansa in pangchiat ta uhi. Huchia mangbang/patau sim kawm a pan nasa tak a lak ahih tawh kiton in Indian government in CRF fund nuai ah Rs. 16.67 crore mautaam ziak a haksatna tuakte panpihna ding in pekhia hi. ( Hiai tungtang Minister pan September 4, 2008 a a puan khiak ma tham in Pa Khatchin Langel in August 3, 2008 in detail tak a phone mahmah a kanchet khit nung in SSPPnet ah ana kaap kheta hi).
Mautaam 2008 gal ah tuh vualzohna i tang ngei ding un a gintak huai ahi. Hiai ka gelh kawm in Bukpi a ka tanau te uh khat ka phone a ( I gam uh nak eng khantouh lua ahi, Bukpi a tangval ten nungak hel na dia mobile phone zangta uh ahih bang !) Zingchiang in (10th September 2008) antang khosung ah a hong hawm di uh chih ahon hilh a ka lungdam mah mah hi. Hiai pen job card antang ahi a hon chih leh ka lung a muang zosem ahi. Aziak ahih leh NREGS scheme nuai a daily wages pen antang a pia uh ahih tuak a, Centre government akipan CRF fund Rs. 16.67 crore leh COMFA te dong khiak te hinai lou lai ahih man in. Hiaite bang le om keihkaih lai ahih man in lungmuan huai mahmah hi.
Awle, Ka Zomi pih, bang teng lunglai na gel hiam ? Pupa gamlei ah kial tungthei ding in na ging ta lailai hia? Government akipan panpihna hoih pipi om a huaite sem khe ding MLA leh Minister i chipih sapih te ngoihngoih nei ihi ta uh. 1950’s mautaam tawh aki bang nawn kei ahi. Huaite ban ah gam-le-nam itt tu tam tak tut mun a pangthei ding leng i om uhi. Pang khawm siau siau le hang i gam uah kial a tung kei ding a khantouhna leh khovaak a hong tung zaw ding ahi. Siamsin ten Zogam sapna aw a zata ngal ua!
“Zogam mial ah khuavak puak dingin
Hong ging hi sapna aw tuni in;
Kua kuan ding hiam khua vak puak ding Zogam ah
Singdang omlou siamsin te loungal.”
- Rev Lian C Tombing (Lamka Block SSPP president ahih lai a a phuah ahi).
‘A semi-starved nation can have neither religion nor art nor organization.’Mahatma Gandhi.
This is the second time I write on this topic. In my previous article I did not deal with the meaning of MAUTAAM. Hence, I think it is pertinent to dwell in the meaning of mautaam here. The word mautaam is formed by two words MAU and TAAM. Mau means bamboo and tam means famine. Therefore mautaam can be rendered as ‘bamboo related famine’ or ‘famine caused by the flowering and dying down of bamboos.’ This phenomenon occurs in a regular interval of 48-50 years in parts of Manipur and Mizoram States in the areas where bamboo covered.
From its flowering till date the mau has played its own part. It had flowered, bore fruits and died down. New bamboo plants started to take their place. But the tam is only about to play its role. The sudden multiplication of the number of rats is unbelievable. It is surprising that whether this mautaam rats are a special gift to destroy every food crops and create famine. We, tribal are fond of rat meat. Therefore, on other than mautaam years we caught rats with the help of traps or dug it out of its hole. To us, they are not a docile animal. Rats cannot be caught or killed with sticks because they are afraid of man. But this year’s special rats are not like the previous rats. Live photos can be taken while they are eating and destroying food crops. They have no fear of man.
Bad it may, the English construction I have been writing here the urged within me prompted me to put it in English. There’s no help for it. But to write and highlight. If interested and kind enough to save the life of our people, why not read on?
Born to destroy?: What is more surprising is that they are like having special sense on how to select food crops from other crops. The trail they left is also astonishing. They cut down every standing food crops at the bottom into pieces. Not only this they also destroyed all creeping and climbing food crops. During this season, in other years, our interior villagers were self-sufficient in seasonal crops like cucumber, maize, melon, water melon, pumpkin, peas, etc. But this year, they have none. My sister and brother visited me recently. They narrated all this. It is really mind blowing and ear tingling. Hard to believe, yet true! To show how rats play havoc on food crops and rats multiplied in numbers; the Chief of Lungthul (E) brought more than one thousand rat tails at Churachandpur as evidence. That was a week’s hunt with hoe stick. If mautaam rats were not special rats they cannot be easily killed with bare stick. So, the Lungthul (E) Chief’s rat tail tale, tells everything beyond doubt.
Such being the situation in our interior villages, two big questions arise here. First, what to eat next year and who will provide it? As there is not going to be harvest this year, these questions need immediate attention. Next is where to get seeds to sow if they survive? If these two questions have not been paid attention to, or if there is no satisfactory answer for these questions, there is not going to be a ray of hope for our people, mautaam victims. If some one has doubt on my writing and take it as a mere exaggeration he can confirm with the candid photo snaps of the MHJU tour team and also the COMFA live photo clips.
At this point, let me have a look back on how the State government and our representatives have no plan and preparation for this eventuality. At the outset, it was the Zomi Planning and Development Agency (ZEPADA) which raised its voice to the need for combating mautaam. It even unearthed as to how the PDS items meant for the district have been hijacked, of course from Sangaiprou Godown, Imphal. Some thing came out of it. But the PDS items which reached the district have been far from satisfactory. What is worse is that most of the PDS items have been sold out at Churachandpur town (sic village) itself. It did not reached the targeted masses of our interior villages. At the same time some FPS agents used these items for minting money for their selfish ends.
Again, while writing this, how Mizoram State has taken steps to combat mautaam before it becomes into reality comes to my mind. The Mizoram government had been busy for 4 to 5 years before mautaam occurs. While asking special packages from the Central Government to meet this eventuality the state government on its part had tried to meet on its own too. It bought a rat tail at Rs.5/- before 5 years mautaam menace. It took steps by spreading awareness programme and educating on how to cultivate alternative crops with subsidies. However, the Mizoram government could not meet the rat menace successfully with such preparations. Such has been the case; it is natural that Manipur government, having no plan at all, the victims have to suffer helplessly. It is also discernible that Manipur government has no concern for our (us) people at all.
Further, let me compare ourselves with our valley counterparts. Laishram Monika was rejected from the Indian squad of Beijing Olympics at the eleventh hour. No sooner than the news reached Manipur than the valley people burst out as one. The Sports Minister and the Chief Minister of Manipur rushed to Delhi to enquire the case and plead for her cause. This is to a great extent shameful for Manipur. We understand it. But it is the question of whether she will bring medal or not. However, on our part, the question is of life and death. But there is no one to plead for our cause. The plight of our people has been turned a deaf ear this far. Till today we hear no voice from the government and our own representatives to address the plight of our people. None care for us, even our representatives! Those who we expect to raise voice for our people remained a smug silence. Nothing is heard of them! Can we call them our representatives? Are they thinking they represent a selected few? Time will tell.
Furthermore, the alternative food of village folk when there is no good harvests are maize, taro (whether it is correct or not- Bal in local dialect, Pan in Manipuri) and hakai (a type of wild root fruits but deep to dig out). Maize and taro too fell the victim of rats. The only alternative left is hakai if sufficient rice has not been supplied. They may not die of starvation but out of malnutrition. At the same time, to let our people take to hakai at this advanced age will be very shameful. We cannot bear it. Of late an organization called Committee on Mautaam Famine Aid (COMFA) came into being and urged to combat mautaam on our own. This may sound good but may be easier said than done. Therefore, it is high-time to take steps cautiously. What sounds good may not be put into practice. So, the only alternative step left for us is to pressurize the government and our representatives. If heeded we gain, if ignored there are many steps to be taken.
Remember, the Mizo National Front underground movement was the off-shot of Mautaam itself. What is needed most at this juncture is to raise our voice in unison, let us be one, let us show our unity to the Manipur government. If we fail to unite in the face of this mautaam calamity, what can we expect worse thing to unite us? Complete annihilation? To remain a despised ones? Assimilated tribes? To accept the chain of slavery even for the coming generation’s history?
The answer is yours and mine. To me, the answer is : to plead, to agitate, to resort to whatever means the Indian Democracy allow us, and if not paid heeded to, even beyond the Indian Constitution. On saying this, I don’t mean to wage war against the government of India. Far from it, India will not allow us to die of hunger. She is the emerging global super power economically and militarily, to repeat. It is our representatives (?) if they think they are so? And the State Government to bring the matter to Mother India. It is here the question lies. Therefore, if India did not come to our rescue it will not be her fault, but of the Manipur government and our representatives. If Manipur did not care for us why remain in it? Are we going to remain satisfy under this step-motherly treatment? If the L. Monika case compelled the head of the state to rushed to Delhi to plead her case why not ours? Is a single sportsperson’s rejection case graver than the life of thousands of our people? Is that uncertain Olympic medal more precious than the life of more than one lakh village people? If the Manipur government remained a deaf ear further why not wake it and compel it to address our people’s plight? If we remain still further, it will not be the fault of Manipur Government, our self-professed representatives, but ours. At the same time, if the MLAs of our interior villagers did not think they represent them let them give place to someone who will represent and care for them. I say this, because none of them except Mr. T. Hangkhanpao remain silent this far.
While I am writing this the following mobile news reached me. 1.Singngat MLA Pu Hangkhanpao has discussion on mautaam famine and how to distribute rice to the victims with the designated agents on 23rd August 2008. (The first among four representarives of Churachandpur district. Hurrah!) (Zogam Thuthang) 2.‘Let mautaam unite Eimite (all of us) & just like Mizoram i.e. MNF to fight..? Pray that it’s a blessing in disguise’ from Lian K. Muivahland (Lenlai News) 3.‘9.9 crore spend on rodent control etc. since 2006, 16.9 crore sanctioned by the Central government for relief, (but) not a single paise was spent (for the purpose) so far to help mautaam in Churachandpur. Let’s all fight famine without waiting for what the government is doing. One will starve to death (and) it will be shame for you and me’- President, CDSU(Lenlai News) & (Zogam Thuthang) 4. News has come in highlighting that our brothers of interior villages has nothing to depend on as mautaam has play havoc on their paddy field, completely devasted. (Lenlai News) 5. ‘The Indian Government has sanctioned Rs. 1000 crore on Bihar flood under natural calamity fund along with 1.25 lakh ton of rice. But our mautaam remained unheard of to the government.’ (Zogam Thuthang). 6. ‘Near the vincinity of Sinzang village lying along Tipaimukh Road hosts of thangdal (a king of flying insect with great bad odor) covered three mounts.’ (Zogam Thuthang). 7. ‘Believe it or not: the Chief Minister of Manipur along with his council of Ministers ate up all the rodent control “rodent killer drug” amounting to Rs. 9.16 crore. On knowing this rats become furious!’(Lenlai News). 8. ‘Pu Mani Charanemai, MP promised to COMFA that he’ll contribute 150 quintals of rice; at this point the Ministers and MLAs of Churachandpur district claimed they’ll not remain a silent spectator.’ (Zogam Thuthang). GREAT, HAIL!
Taking the above news as first hand information, it is heart rending that the plight of our brothers has been paid unheeded. So, unity, and unity alone can save them from the jaws of death. For all of us, there is no time to procrastinate. Act, therefore act. Our inaction and smug silence may mean death. The urge is as quick as my heart-beat, what about you! All of us, need we have time to procrastinate? Or, act now, presently? Future is full of deceit? Rely on future or act once? The choice is ours. To me, to act, no time for procrastination. Agree with me or not? The choice is yours. Huh! To conclude I would like to call upon every one of us in the words of John F. Kenedy : “United, there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures….divided, there is little we can do – for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder.”
‘It is an insult to God and humanity to tell religion to a hungry man.’ Swami Vivekananda.
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