Food Shortage Hits Karnali Zone Hard
Karnali Messenger-Karnali Forum for Sustainable development
THT Online Surkhet, May 16
Famine has hit the remote hill districts of Karnali zone: Kalikot, Mugu
and Dolpa, especially after the government-subsidised food grain quota
has petered out. Suide by side, there is no arrangement for timely
delivery to these districts.
The allotted quota of food grains in the fiscal year 2062/63 fell short
and the government, as a relief measure, totted up an extra quota of
3,500 quintals for five districts of the zone during just one month -
from April 14 to May 14. But even the additional quota was not
adequate. Despite a supply of 1,500 quintals of food grains to Kalikot,
the Food Corporation depot is empty.
Leave aside remote villages, even the district headquarters are bereft
of grain supply. This year, a total of 6,800 quintals of food grains
including additional supplies were sent to Kalikot. Yet, the crunch
prevails, said the Food Corporation branch office, Surkhet. Manager of
the Surkhet Food Corporation branch office, Lava Kumar Shrestha said
unless more supplies are rushed in on a war footing, the famine can't
be mitigated.
He added that remedial measures would be taken by mobilising the
internal source of the Food Corporation if the additional quota is not
approved.
Dolpa too is hit by famine since the last few days. The food grain
crunch cropped up after the quota allocated to the district got used up
and fresh supplies could not be sent. According to officials of the
Surkhet Food Corporation branch, it is touch and goes for the Dolpa
people as the expected 1,000 quintals of allotted food grains did not
reach there.
Eever since the Food Corporation dropped the road transport route-from
Dang's Tulsipur to Dolpa -in favour of airlifting food grains, supplies
to the district have been irregular. Also, thanks to the recent
nationwide strike food grains could not be trasported either by land or
air, said branch manager Shrestha. Meanwhile, Mugu also is groaning
under a food grains crunch.