Shadow of discrimition on relief distribution

Officials deny charge

Staff Correspondent

SHILLONG, April 10: Alleged discrimition in providing relief to victims of hail and thunderstorm that hit areas under Ranikor, South West Khasi Hills has surfaced after the Khasi Students Union (KSU) carried an inspection in the 128 villages affected by the recent fury of ture.  The castigation is not only the local MLA and state PWD Minister Martin M Danggo but also on the Block development office (BDO).

In making this tirade, President of the KSU (Ranikor circle) M.Thongni said on Monday, “The local MLA did extend immediate help to the affected families but it was biased because many were also left out”.

“He extended help without consulting the responsible village headmen to identify the families and left the entire task with his political henchmen who decided on the basis of political allegiance”, Thongni stated while alluding to half a dozen villages that were deprived of the relief.  More so, even the Block development office (BDO) came under the influence of these political henchmen alleged the KSU leader by pointing out at the block official’s absence on the field to assess the damage. 

“Can you imagine that the henchmen carried out the assessment and submit the mes to the Block Development Officer”, stated another KSU functiory, adding, “in turn the office assigned the people to carry with the distribution of relief materials.” The KSU even said that the BDO seems to be a ‘yes man’ of the minister and local MLA even on issues related to distribution.

Amidst the allegations, sources within the district administration ponder on purported distribution of relief as a misnomer. The District administration has not even completed the process of evaluation on the damages, the report has not reached, how can we distributed the rehabilitation package?, stated a source during an interaction with The Sentinel.

Whatever rehabilitation packages to the affected victims will go to the banks –virtually ruling out the ‘distribution in kind’, stated a source while feigning ignorance on the rehabilitation provided by the local MLA through his own individual packages. Another sources does not ruled out the allegations of being part of the larger game ahead of the 2018 elections-notwithstanding the valid cry of the student body in questioning the biasness.