Free veggies supplies and other livelihood assistances from Mizoram villages continue to pour in for residents of state capital Aizawl as the state continue to grapple with the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic.
Aizawl has been under lockdown for more than 60 days since April due to the spread of Covid-19, which caused livelihood crisis among the residents especially the urban poor.
Although the state government has tried it best to address the crisis by extending monetary assistance to those household facing food crisis through the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, the rural villages, which are less affected by Covid-19, also played their part by contributing their harvests to support the urban residents.
Tuisual group of Young Mizo Association (YMA), which comprises of 16 YMA branches from 14 villages in Aizawl district in the northeastern part of the state adjoining Manipur on Wednesday sent 9 trucks full of vegetables and other forest produce to Aizawl.
The YMA group president Lalremsanga Biate said that 5 pickup trucks, 3 medium (407) trucks and one heavy truck full of vegetables of different types were presented to two localities in Aizawl on Wednesday.
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He said that the vegetables were collected by the villagers from their jhum lands and forest.
He said that the villagers organised community work in their respective areas to forage for vegetables and other forest produce.
“This is a very insignificant thing we can do for the residents of Aizawl, who are facing hardship due to the coronavirus induced lockdown. It is not for a publicity stunt because it is purely a self-less service and humanitarian aids at these trying times but not for fame,” Biate said.
On June 17, Langkaih group of YMA in Mamit district also provided free vegetables, fruits and other essential commodities, including rice to 11 localities in Aizawl.
There are 16 YMA branches from 16 villages within the jurisdiction of Langkaih group.
Several rural villages also earlier provided vegetables and other forest produce to residents of Aizawl.
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However, most villages refused to publish their noble deeds.
Apart from government and villages, local councils, NGOs and churches in Aizawl are also helping the poor in their respective areas.
Many organisations, churches and generous people have also come forward to help the state government and the poor by donating money to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund and giving alms to the needy.
So far Rs 26.95 crore has been contributed towards the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund since last year, of which Rs 25.24 crore has been spent to fight Covid-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, the state government on Wednesday appealed to all landlords to either waive off or reduce rent to their tenants at these trying times.