NFC says it has no dearth of rice in the store but said it has no money to transport it to the hungry residents living in some of the far-flung VDCs. [break]
At least 10 VDCs in the district are currently in short-supply of basic foodstuffs after the shipment got stuck at the district headquarters’ store. Food depots of Radijyula of Aathbiskot and Rukkumkot have not even a grain of rice.
It may be recalled here that a similar situation had gripped the residents last year. However, with the help of local consumers committee and contractors, they got their rice transported to the two depots for onward distribution and the looming famine situation was somehow averted.
Prem Narayan Bhandari, Chief of NFC, Rukum, laid the blame on the corporation’s office at the district headquarters arguing that the later hasn’t sent any money to transport the foodstuffs.
The stuck bags of rice are eaten by moth and dust mites, he said.
Bhandari, meanwhile, said though the government had been allocating grant to the district for transportation of foodstuffs, it, however, didn’t follow the suit this year.
Bhandari ruled out the possibility of ferrying the rice should there be no transport fare made available.
“We haven’t received any amount thus far,” he added.
The 10 VDCs were earlier declared as food-deficit areas by the District Food Security Committee. With little or no prospect of transporting the rice, the residents are now on the verge of famine.
The only food available for them is potato, according to Lajim Oli, a resident of Jang. He said that he hasn’t seen any grain of rice coming here.
“Additional shipment of rice hasn’t come yet from the Center, and, even if it comes, without money to transport it, it is meaningless; it will simply pileup in the store,” added Bhandari.
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