ZEPADA Petition under Right to Information Act, 2005 & the response

Subject: Petition under Right to Information Act, 2005 – Amount of funds released to Manipur under the National Calamity Fund during the years 2006 onwards.

Sir,

As you are well aware, Churachandpur District in Manipur State and the adjoining areas of Tamenglong District have been facing the Bamboo Flowering (Mautaam) phenomenon from 2006 onwards and there is an unprecedented increase in the population of rats/pests which devoured all the standing crops i.e. paddy, maize, vegetables etc. The uncontrolled destruction of crops by rats from 2006 onwards has resulted in acute shortage of food grains and a severe famine. In the year 2007, a total of 1,03,559 people living in 269 villages were affected by famine. Now in the year 2008, the population of rats have increased much more alarmingly and there is no ripen crop to be harvested. The future is very alarming and grim as there is little or no assistance from the state Government. The poor villagers are left to fend for themselves by living on whatever roots or forest products they could find from the jungles.

2. Alarmed with the severe famine situation and absence of any meaningful assistance from the State Government, I have been authorized by the Delhi Working Group of Zomi Economic Planning and Development Agency (ZEPDA) to request you to kindly furnish the amount of fund allotted to Manipur under National Calamity Fund, under RTI Act, 2005 as below:-

(i) The amount of fund allotted to Manipur and Mizoram states from 2005-06 onwards till today.

(ii) The total amount/details of fund sanctioned to Manipur from 2005-06 till date along with a copy each of the sanction letters.

(iii) Any other form of assistance given to Manipur during the period in question along with copies of the relevant orders.

(iv) The amount of fund/assistance earmarked for Churachandpur District, if any, along with copy of the relevant orders.

3. ZEPADA, Delhi Working Group also fervently request you to kindly take all necessary steps to allot sufficient funds and ensure that the funds are properly utilized and benefited by the famine affected people of Churachandpur District. An Indian Postal Order No. 64E 481577 dated 11-09-08 of Rs.10/- only in favour of Secretary(DM&BM), MHA is enclosed herewith towards the fee for the RTI petition. I shall be very grateful if the requisite information is furnished at the earliest at the address given below.

Thanking you in anticipation.
Yours faithfully,

( S. KHUPMINTHANG )
Chairman
ZEPADA Delhi Working Group
No.408, Veer Awas (Kargil Apartments)
Sector18/A, Dwarka, New Delhi-110075
Place : New Delhi
Date : 12.9.2008