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Our Correspondent
Kohima, June 14 (EMN): As the state government continues to extend the lockdown imposed to curb the transmission of Covid-19, many people, especially the daily-wage earners and the needy, have been badly affected and are facing untold miseries.
However, the government began to distribute dry ration containing 12 items as a measure to mitigate the plight of the poor during the Covid-induced lockdown on Monday.
In Kohima, Gregory Thejawelie, deputy commissioner of Kohima launched the relief distribution for daily wage earners and labourers at Khouchiezie (local ground).
Speaking to Eastern Mirror, the DC informed that they were giving out the dry ration as decided by the state government to extend help to "all the needy people who have been deeply affected due to the continuous lockdown as the state is experiencing".
Acknowledging that many people have been unable to attend to their work to maintain their livelihood owing to the prevailing situation, he said that the government has come out with the programme to help people especially those who depend on day-to-day wages and needy families with the dry ration.
Thejawelie, who is also the chairman of District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), apprised that they have dispatched the essentials to all other Kohima administrative circles. He added that the last consignment was being transported to Botsa sub-division while other consignments had reached the rest.
"From there, the sub-divisions will distribute it (dry ration) to the needy people in their respective areas," the deputy commissioner said, adding, "In Kohima city, we have started giving out to the daily wage earners".
He also informed that in a day or two, the relief items would be handed over to the needy from the colonies in and around the state capital, stating that they are in touch with the wards for the same.
A 37-year-old mother of three children who works at a small food stall in PR Hill colony informed this newspaper a couple of days back that she received only half of her salary amounting to INR 3,500 from the owner this time as the stall had to be closed due to the lockdown.
Sharing that they are not like government employees, she shared her apprehension that she would not be able to support her children if the situation continues to aggravate.
According to sources from the district administration, 7000 beneficiaries have been listed till date from various wards and colonies under Kohima municipal areas and rural areas, who will be assisted with a dry ration relief package containing 12 relief items.
Meanwhile, it was learnt that 700 beneficiaries each in Chiephobozou and Tseminyu sub-divisions will be allotted the relief ration; 300 each in Jakhama, Sechü-Zubza and Botsa; and 200 each in Kezocha and Tsogin.
Each beneficiary will receive 10 kg of rice; one kg of lentils; one kg of dal; half litre bottle of mustard oil; one kg of sugar; 200 grams of tea leaves; two bathing soap; two pieces of washing soap; 100 grams of masala packet; one kg of onion and garlic together; and 100 grams of chilli powder.
It was informed that on Monday, about 50 beneficiaries were assisted with the relief materials at the local ground.
A newspaper hawker who came to receive the dry ration at the local ground informed this newspaper that like other people, he was facing difficulties during the lockdown in Kohima. He shared that during last year's lockdown, he had not faced problems as he went back to his native place in Bihar.
Many citizens also informed that while different frontline workers and health workers get support from government, civil organisations and individuals, the poor continue to suffer silently during the pandemic.Kohima distributes relief materials to daily-wage earners