Mixed reactions to relief ration in Kohima

Our Correspondent
Kohima, April 1 (EMN): To the utter dismay of some daily wagers who were told that food items would be distributed to them, the relief items reportedly run out of stock on Tuesday, compelling them to return home empty handed.

It may be mentioned that the Kohima district administration had initiated distribution of essential commodities for daily wagers, stranded travellers and students following the lockdown imposed by the government. In tune with the announcement, Kohima district administration has initiated distribution of food grains for those daily wagers, stranded travellers and students following the nation-wide lockdown.

As information of relief rations spread like wildfire in the morning, the daily wagers from near and far places in the state capital throng in groups to get their share. However, by the time the number of those labourers increased, the ration got exhausted.

Meanwhile, the initiative undertaken by the Kohima district administration and the district disaster management authority proved to be beneficial to the daily wagers, stranded travellers and students in Kohima, who found succour through relief ration. The relief ration distribution began on March 31 from 10 am to 2 pm and would continue till the lockdown period is over.

Additional deputy commissioner (ADC), Kohima, Lithrongla Tongpi Rutsa told Eastern Mirror that relief ration was issued to those stranded travellers and daily wagers after identified by the district administration. The quantity depended on the number of members in a family, she added.

She mentioned that they had received information about some residents calling up their home state to convey their difficulty on food shortage following the lockdown. Accordingly, they were given rice, dal, salt and chilli powder to those daily wagers, stranded travellers and hostellers who cannot move around because of the lockdown, she said.

She also informed that they have arranged a relief camp at IG stadium, Kohima, where stranded travellers and students would be accommodated. It was learned that essential commodities were also issued to the daily wagers and students from Nagaland University, Meriema campus, on March 31.

It is informed that more than 90 households and 207 individuals including Nagaland University students were provided with ration in those two days.

Any daily wager, stranded travellers from other districts and outside Nagaland are asked to contact control room on phone no. 0370-229 0028 and Kohima relief distribution centre on phone no. 6033833879.

One such beneficiary named Esther, who is preparing for competitive exams, expressed gratitude to the administration for the assistance through the relief ration. Esther shared that because of the lockdown, her parents could not send money or vegetables and was facing immense difficulty as she could not even go back to her hometown in Mon.

Another person by the name of Serochum Sangtam, a daily wager who looks after his wife and three younger brothers, commented that they were not able to find any work after the lockdown. “Even if I want to buy food from shops and stores, I cannot afford it as we do not have money,” he said.

“I came to get the goods as I felt that I needed help,” Sangtam said that after learning about the relief ration. He thanked the government for helping him in this situation.