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Politics mess up food distribution
NEPALGUNJ, MAY 18 -
Political meddling in food distribution has badly hit the food-insecure districts in the Karnali region.Residents in these back of beyond districts — Humla, Jumla, Dolpa, Mugu and Kalikot — have not received their quota of subsidised food as a result.
Poor families in the country’s remotest region have complained
that they were deprived of rice as political leaders, lawmakers and administrative officials influence the Nepal Food Corporation (NFC) to prioritise their supporters, kith and kin in the distribution of the essential commodity meant for them.
A Humla-based NFC worker said by the time the food consignment arrives at the airport, people who have procured ration coupons and recommendations from local politicians and the Chief District Officer (CDO), throng the depot asking for food. “We can dole out the foodstuffs only as recommended,” he clarified.
This has had direct effect on the villagers living miles away from the district headquarters. When they reach the depots after days’ walk, they are denied any share by the vendors.
“Political activists can buy food as much as they want but the poor
like us don’t get a single grain,” lamented Dhan Bahadur BK of Rowa VDC in Mugu.
Ration coupons distributed by the CDO usually land on the hands
of political activists, a source said. “Even when there is no food left in store, they come with the coupons issued by the CDO and lawmaker seeking rice,” he said.
Karnajeet Buda, a lawmaker from Humla, is in the district headquarters these days. He is busy issuing ration coupons to his supporters regardless of the fact that the NFC has halted food shipment to the district for want of funds.
“What else could I do?” he wondered about issuing coupons to his supporters. “If there is no food, then something must be done to replenish the supply.”
Although only the CDO can issue the coupons to the needy, lawmaker Buda and other local leaders are openly doing so. “They insist on having some coupons for them as well,” Shivchandra Dhital, acting CDO, said.
(With inputs from Raj Bahadur Shahi in Mugu & Jai Bahadur Rokaya in Humla)
Posted on: 2010-05-19 07:59
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