Mizo villages on the brink of starvation

Aizawl, Dec 5 (UNI) Many villages in western Mizoram, including Phuldungsei and its neighbouring villages, are on the brink of starvation even as some families were reportedly living on a meal a day owing to the Mautam (bamboo flowering) rats which had ravaged their entire crop.

Official reports said here today that the government godown at Phuldungsei, the main supply centre of the area, had a stock of only 180 bags of rice, which would last only for the next few days.

Sources from the area reported that the adult members in some of the Chakma and Bru families had been surviving on one meal a day to save enough food for their children.

Phuldungsei and its neighbouring villages, including Parvatui and West Phulpui, were entirely dependant on the government godown which had the stocks to last for only a week, the sources said.

Moreover, the villages were left with almost nothing to harvest this year.

Meanwhile, joint Young Mizo Association branches of Champhai town and its surrounding villages decided to collect donations for Mautam-affected families.

With Champhai district being the least affected by Mautam rats, the YMA branches decided to offer a helping hand to the highly distressed villages.

Each family in Champhai district was requested to donate 25 per cent of their rice harvest or cash for the Mautam-affected families.

The YMAs would ensure that the beneficiaries received the aid before Christmas.

UNI