Wholesale dealers charging money from flood-hit people for transportation or relief items, claim locals
TURA: Some of the villagers in flood-affected Chokchokia village of Rajabala have complained of receiving inadequate relief from authorities and have accused the administration and their village headman of failing to provide ration to several affected households.
The bone of contention is the population Census list of Chokchokia village which allegedly did not have the names of several dozen villagers.
The flood relief in the form of food items – rice, pulses, mustard oil and salt, were reportedly provided as per the population Census of 2011 even though the number of individuals in the village had increased in the last three years.
“There are more than 108 households in the village but the authorities provided ration as per the 2011 list which resulted in several people not receiving their share of ration,” alleged some of the local residents of Chokchokia.
They also claimed to have received less amount of ration despite money being taken from them for transporting the food items to the affected villagers.
“Each household had to give ten rupees as transportation fee to those who provided the ration,” alleged a young villager who has lodged a complaint with the authorities against the relief authorities and the village headman.
However, a government official informed that the 2011 Census figure was taken because there has been no new census taken beyond that year.
“It is understandable that some villagers may have been left out because they were not part of the Census during 2011 and there has been no updated list since then,” said the official.
He informed that each affected person was provided with ration for three days in Chokchokia in the form of 600 grams rice (adult), 400 grams (minor), 100 ml of cooking oil per head, 100 grams pulses and 30 grams salt each day.
“If anyone has taken money as transportation fee from the villagers action will be taken but so far we have not received any complaint. A total of six wholesale dealers were pressed into providing ration for the flood affected villagers of West Garo Hills,” informed the official.