GUWAHATI: The United Garo Autonomous Council Movement Committee (UGACMC) has sought a relief package for over 2600 Garo families in Goalpara district who have allegedly been deprived of scheme benefits amid the extended lockdown.
In a memorandum submitted to Assam chief minister, Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday, the committee alleged that the Garo community in Goalpara district has been the “worst victims” of the lockdown for COVID-19.
“The extended lockdown has unsettled lives and livelihoods, halted the economy and pushed us into crisis. These difficulties have been exacerbated by the hardships faced by the daily-wage earners. The lockdown has affected marginalised Garo communities because of loss of livelihood and lack of food, shelter, health and other basic needs,” UGACMC (Assam state) chairman, Alex K. Sangma stated in the memorandum to the chief minister.
The Assam Cabinet had resolved to provide one-time financial assistance of Rs 1,000 to the households who do not have ration cards and are not covered under the National Food Security Act, 2013.
“But thousands of people from our community are still deprived from such schemes. They are in urgent need of a relief package and under the above circumstances, we earnestly pray and hope that you would be kind enough to make an arrangement of relief items for the lockdown-affected people,” Sangma said.
He alleged that at least 2631 Garo families in the border district have been deprived of the government schemes.
“So, we request your honour to peruse our strong demand towards the greater interest of the Garo people of Assam. We are relying on you to look into the matter and solve the problems being faced by the Garo people,” Sangma stated in the memorandum.