Govt to distribute food items to Ampati villagers

Shillong: To help daily wage earners who are the worst sufferers of the GNLA-sponsored indefinite bandh in Ampati, the State Government has directed the district administration of South West Garo HIlls to distribute rice, dal, mustard oil and salt among 50,000 daily wage earners who have had to remain out of work on account of the indefinite bandh.
As per the calamity relief norms the above items are being distributed based on reports received from the Block Development Officers.
“Majority of the households were distributed the rations in their villages under security as we received reports that most of the villagers are afraid to come out and are losing their livelihoods,” said Ram Singh, Deputy Commissioner of South West Garo HIlls.
GNLA shutdown: Meanwhile, the GNLA-called shutdown of all government offices in entire Garo Hills in protest against the failure of the state Government to bring to justice all those involved in the alleged fake encounter at Oragitok recently brought office functioning to a standstill.
In South Garo Hills the attendance percentage in the Deputy Commissioner’s Office was said to be a mere 25 percent while East Garo Hills sank even lower with just 20 percent attendance according to official sources from the two districts.
In North Garo Hills officials claimed that attendance in the DC’s Office was 50 percent, however, other sources when contacted said that the figure was much lower. Similarly, in West Garo Hills officials put the figure at 50 percent even as employees of the office said that attendance was low.