Dial Delhi for package : MPCC to Govt

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, May 6: Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee president MLA K Meghachandra has urged the State Government to provide immediate relief to hailstorm affected victims and request a package from the Centre as soon as possible.
Addressing a press meet held at Congress Bhavan today, Meghachandra said amid the turmoil in the State, the severe hailstorm yesterday has affected hundreds of families in several parts of Manipur.
He said the Congress party understands the woes of the victims and is sharing their pain.
While people's economy has already been devastated by the ongoing violent conflict, the hailstorm had destroyed the homes of many and added more burden, he said.
The Government should provide immediate relief to repair the houses and properties that have been damaged by the hailstorm and further seek a relief package from the Centre, he added.
The hailstorm caused severe damage to properties and many houses have been blown away. There have been reports of many affected families taking shelter in relief camps, he said.
Even as the Government has instructed Deputy Commissioners to collect reports of the damage, victims have been asked to fill up forms for availing assistance. While speeding up this process, exactly how this process will provide aid must be made known to the victims, Meghachandra said.
Further hinting that the Government's immediate response and the assistance announced were not clear, Meghachandra said the Government should clearly state how it is going to provide the assistance and how much.
There are many whose entire houses have been blown away. The Government must decide and fix the assistance according to the varying degree of damages that have been caused, he said.
"Is the Government going to give the victims tin sheets only or is it going to give additional aid? The victims must be clearly told what they are receiving as relief from the Government. The Government must fix and announce the aid clearly," Meghachandra said.
He further stated that while the Government works on a larger aid, it should provide immediate relief to the victims.
People who have lost roofs to the natural calamity need roofs over their heads. They can't wait. The Government must provide immediate assistance and in the meantime seek a relief package from the Centre, he added.
Meghachandra also urged the Government to release the fund for the MLA's Local Area Development Fund stating it can be utilised to buy roofing sheets and provide relief to the victims.