Salvation Army in eastern India launches 'Fair Deal' cut-price rice scheme to cope with famine
Salvation Army in eastern India launches 'Fair Deal' cut-price rice scheme to cope with famine
A Mizo girl whose family will benefit from the Fair Deal scheme
THE Salvation Army in eastern India has set up a number of feeding programmes in the state of Mizoram, where large numbers of people are suffering as a result of a little-reported disaster.
A phenomenon known locally as the ‘Mautam’ has a regular occurrence in the area every 48 to 52 years. The problems arise from the fact that in every cycle, a specific strain of bamboo which grows in the area, flowers and produces fruit. The fruit eventually drops off the bamboo and becomes food for the rodents of the area, specifically rats. The resulting massive population of rats attack the fields of crops which would normally supply the food chain in the whole of the state. It is said that when this happens it is common for a farmer to go to bed having fields full of ripe crops, only to rise in the morning with it having completely vanished. (Click here for a more detailed explanation from the BBC website.)
 The cactus fruit at the heart of the 'Mautam' phenomenon  Commissioner Donald Odegaard waves off a truck containing food for the Fair Deal centres at the scheme's launch |
Ninety per cent of the population of Mizoram lives in rural areas and most are farmers, depending totally on the crops and income from them for their daily living. When the crops fail or are destroyed, the local economy becomes unsustainable and very little food is available. In previous occurrences of the 'Mautam' phenomenon, the hardship caused resulted in rioting and major disturbances as people try to survive in desperate circumstances.
The Salvation Army in Mizoram has launched a ‘Fair Deal centres’ scheme, where local communities can purchase food and grain at a much-subsidised cost – typically half price. Families can generate small amounts of income through the local casual labour scheme and, although they will have less money than usual, they should be able to purchase enough food to see them through the worst of the crisis. The scheme also allows people to maintain a sense of dignity because they are not simply the recipients of a handout.
The project allows for The Salvation Army to purchase food and grain from other areas of India and transport it to 10 centres in Mizoram, where the local community leaders arrange for a distribution at 50% of cost. Any income generated from these sales will be put directly back into the fund to purchase the next month's supply. The plan is for a six-month programme of this nature, costing US$312,000 in total and funded by The Salvation Army's Sweden and Latvia Territory and The Netherlands and Czech Republic Territory.
Major Mike Caffull (Field Operations Officer, International Headquarters) says: 'This is an excellent and innovative scheme. It is typical of the way The Salvation Army tries to tailor its relief programmes to each individual situation and, where possible, set up proactive projects that will enable people to survive emergencies with their dignity intact.'
The scheme was officially launched by Commissioner Donald Ødegaard (International Secretary for Programme Resources, IHQ) and large crowds gathered to witness the first consignment of food leaving the state capital, Aizawl, for the 10 Fair Deal centres. Salvation Army leaders Colonel D. Jaypaul (Territorial Commander, Eastern India), and Chief Secretary Lieut-Colonel Lalngaihawmi, together with the India Eastern Staff Band, were present for the launch of the project.
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