By Dhyan Kulung
Sankhuwasabha, Jan. 16: On November 25, hailstorm damaged paddy and millet alongside other cash and food crops of the farmers in Chichila Rural Municipality. Following the damage, the rural municipality provided food relief to 225 families of farmers in Ward No. 2 on Saturday.

With the economic assistance of other helping hands, the municipality distributed a total of 25,200-kilogram rice to the affected families.
“We will also distribute the rice to the affected ones in Ward No. 1 on Sunday,” said Pasang Nurbu Sherpa, chairman of the municipality.

Chichila’s chief administrative officer Shukradevi Rai informed that a team consisting locally elected representatives, farmers and local activists had recommended the list of families to be provided with the relief. The team had inspected the damage and collected the reports after the hailstorm.

According to Rai, the relief was handed in proportion to the family size, and it was not a compensation for the damage but a support to the farmers to continue their livelihoods.
Officials at the municipality also stated that if any affected families didn’t get listed in the relief programme, they could contact the office.