3rn-07-2012
BAJURA: Bela Rokaya of Jugada spent one whole day on Sunday in the Nepal Food Corporation office based in Martadi headquarters to buy rice. But, she did not get rice despite her best efforts.
Later, she went to the nearby Dunihaat market but from there too she returned without any success. She had come to the headquarters after walking two days from her village with the hope of taking rice.
Before returning home, she told The Himalayan Times, "There is not a single grain of rice at home." Bela has 15 members in her family. "There’s no rice at the depot, nor is there any at home," she lamented adding, "Folks in the village would die of hunger."
Along with Bela, Jashi Katawal also had come to the headquarters to get rice but returned empty-handed. Telling that her family would become victims of starvation she said, "Crops cultivated in the village would be enough only for two-three months and we do not get rice even when we are ready to pay for the same."
She went to say that the government fails to understand our problem. Hundreds of people like Bela and Jashi returned home empty hands from the headquarters.
Acting chief of the Food Corporation, Martadi Megh Raj Ojha confessed that food shortage has been witnessed in Bajura as the stock has been finished in the depot.
Government has approved 8,200 quintal rice to Martadi depot and 8,500 to Kolti depot but in May 2012 Dhangadhi-based Zonal Food Corporation reduced the quantity of rice to 4,000 quintal to Martadi depot and 3,000 to Kolti depot without any prior notice, hence this food shortage in the district, said Ojha.
"There is not a single grain of rice in Martadi depot," he confessed adding, "There is only 1,400 quintal rice in Kolti depot at present, but it would last only for a week."
Ojha blamed the government's decision to reduce rice quota in the district, which is the reason behind the acute food shortage. Sixteen VDCs are dependent on Martadi depot and 11 Northern VDCs on Kolti depot for the rice.
Ojha said that they have requested the concerned bodies to send the recommended rice to the district but to no avail. According to him, more than 40 quintal rice used to be distributed from Martadi depot daily. Rice costs Rs 33 per kilogram in the depot.
Food shortage was also attributed to heavy rainfall which obstructed Sanphe-Martadi road section some 10 days ago. "Daily over 50 persons have been returning homes empty-handed from the headquarters," said Chakra Rokaya, secretary at the Chambers of Commerce and Industries.
Rokaya said that if rice is not be ferried within one-two days then the district would face acute starvation. District Agriculture Development said that this year food production has been decreased compared to previous years. HM:
- प्रवास खबर
- नारी आवाज
नारीदर्पणमा:-जोर्डनमा-वलात्कृत-धनमायाँ-न्याय-माग्दै