Truck loads of rice reached the cut-off villages on the other side of Chitrakonda reservoir on Saturday. Resuming their earlier exercise, the Maoists reportedly distributed more than 50,000 bags of rice in all the eight gram panchayats. Thousands made a beeline for the rice despite the heavy downpour.
In a release to the media, the CPI (Maoist) Gumma regional committee secretary claimed that the distribution of rice was disrupted mid-way after Balimela police detained a rice-laden truck last year. The process has now been completed and all the drought-affected provided with free rice in the cut-off region, the release added.
The rebel leader alleged that the cops seized the truck claiming that the rice was meant for the Maoist cadres even as the tribals severely affected by drought suffered. The release stated that the Maoists are not against development in the region but
abhor corruption that plagues the system. It accused the State Government of denying the tribals their rights to education, health, drinking water, PDS rice, mid-day meal and irrigation facilities.
Collector M. Muthu Kumar clarified that the rice reportedly distributed by the Maoists did not belong to the Government. The Sub-Collector and the Civil Supplies Officer have been asked to distribute rice among the BPL and APL beneficiaries in the cut-off region for July and August within two days, Kumar told to this paper.
Comments
0 comment