Zoramthanga fears another Mautam hunger

Aizawl, Jun 11 (UNI) Chief Minister Zoramthanga is making all efforts to avert the possibility of witnessing another "Mautam" in the state.

Hunger, coupled with feeling of dejection, in the aftermath of the last bamboo flowering, locally referred to as "Mautam", in the late '50s - '60s, led to a 20-year-long Mizo revolt against the Union Government under the leadership of late Laldenga.

Chief Minister Zoramthanga, the then aide-camp of Laldenga, was one of those who had best witnessed the whole drama.

''In the aftermath of the last Mautam, the feeling of being neglected led to a fight for independence from the Centre. Even though Delhi is thousands of miles away from Mizoram, the mental closeness will bring about contentment and strengthen our unity,'' chief minister told the Central ministerial team, who had just visited Mizoram to study Mautam and its consequences.

''It may take time before you finish a detailed report. Our immediate need is sufficient rice to ensure that Mizos face no more hunger and depression,'' Zoramthanga told the team.

The nine-member team, led by Central Agriculture Marketing joint director UKS Chauhan, met the chief minister at his residence yesterday before leaving for New Delhi. During their four-day visit, the team visited several villages under Champhai and Serchhip districts, meeting farmers and conducting on-spot verification of crops destroyed by pests, understood to be harbingers of the cyclic Mautam.

Some farmers also alleged that the Centrally-sponsored Bamboo Flowering and Famine Combat Scheme funds had been misused. Mr Chauhan claimed the farmers' disappointment was due to confusion over the Baffacos funds, which is meant for precautionary measures against bamboo flowering, but not compensation for the loss of crops.

He told officials of the need to clearly explain the nature of the scheme to the farmers.

In response to some farmers, Mr Chauhan assured that he would take immediate steps once he returns to Delhi to ensure that the Centre take necessary actions as soon as possible. He also stated that in response to Chief Minister Zoramthanga's request, the Centre has already provided rice that could be sufficient till July, and would provided more as necessary.

In a meeting with the state officials at Aizawl on Saturday, Mr Chauhan said that after he had witnessed how much damage was done to crops, he believed that bamboo flowering is not less destructive than any other natural calamities.

''I will leave no stone unturned to ensure that Mizoram gets necessary help in the wake of the bamboo flowering,'' he assured the officials.

According to official sources here, the total amount of rice lost to Mautam harbingers in the eight districts of Mizoram during 2006-2007 was 12620.86 tonnes in an area of 17,830.94 hectares, and was expected to be 51,209 tonnes during the period 2007-2008.

Maize destroyed during 2006-07 has been calculated to be around 10,475 tonnes, and is estimated to be 26,504 tonnes during this financial year.

Chief secretary Haukhum Hauzel urged the Central officials to reproduce the true picture of Mautam consequences when they get back to Delhi so that Mizoram gets necessary assistance.

''Lack of necessary assistance in the last Mautam led to the Mizoram Insurgency. So, this time the Centre must gives attention to Mizoram Mautam,'' he exhorted.

Hauzel also suggested that the Centre should find ways for Mizo farmers to survive during the transitional period between shifting cultivation and permanent farming.

State Agriculture Minister H Rammawi also urged the Central officials to help make the state government's initiatives on passion fruit, grape, turmeric and others as substitutes to rice cultivation a success.

UNI