BAJURA, JUNE 27

Muktikot village of Swamikartik Khapar Rural Municipality-1 in Bajura is reeling under acute food crisis after draught grossly affected the food production here, amidst Covid-19 pandemic, shared local resident Bal Bahadur BK.

Another local Ram Bahadur BK shared that wheat, barley plants have all dried up due to drought.

Read Also: Muktikot village in Bajura grapples with acute food shortage

There are 400 Dalit families living in the village. With pandemic restrictions, they cannot earn by means of daily-labour work either. Unemployment and lack of food production, as such, have resulted in the crisis.

Among 400 families of the village, only four have employment.

File - Locals of Muktikot village in Swamikartik Khapar Rural Municiaplity in Bajura carrying food bought from Berma Bazaar. Photo: Prakash Singh/THT/File
File - Locals of Muktikot village in Swamikartik Khapar Rural Municiaplity in Bajura carrying food bought from Berma Bazaar. Photo: Prakash Singh/THT/File

Most of the locals had gone to India for employment but as they returned following the coronavirus pandemic, only to find their village struggling with food crisis.

According to the Information Officer of the RM, Kuber Shahi, 95 % of the village residents are facing acute food crisis and malnutrition. Pregnant women, elderly people and children are most affected by the situation.

However, the government authorities are yet to address this grave issue.

Identification of Poor Households board had reported in 2015 that 75 % of the families in the RM are living under the poverty line.

Many children die due to malnutrition every year while the government takes no heed of the situation. The village has been sustaining with no proper healthcare system and declining health condition of its residents.