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The Plague of the Flowering Bamboo -- Appeal for Mautaam Famine Aid
 The 50
years cycle of bamboo flowering is peculiar only to the region of Northeast
India--specifically the hilly states of Manipur.
It is called "Mautaam" locally.
The flowering of the bamboo plants bring with it and astronomical increase
in the rodent population. The
rodents feed on young bamboo plants and seeds.
When the bamboo are devoured, the hordes of rats move on to the paddy
fields and devour all young stalks and the grain leaving almost nothing behind.
For stories click
here.
Today, the church has been fighting a lonely and loosing battle against
this frightening plague
since late 2006. The Manipurian
government is inadequately equipped to deal with the massive problems that
result. The
exponential increase in the rodent population has devoured and laid waste all
crops in the mountainous region. This
50 year cyclical visitation has always been disastrous for the hill-folk of the
region as far back as we have recorded history.
Even in the 21st century, it is threatening the very existence of the
affected population. More than 75%
of the people still depend on traditional jhum
cultivation (shifting agriculture).
Providing sufficient rice--the staple diet--to the affected people is
undoubtedly a gigantic task. given
the smallness of the State government's relief measure to date, the situation
may be taken as opening of an opportunity to every individual concerned to
extend all possible help to our fellow citizens facing the threat of death by
starvation.
Unless we do what can be done today, tomorrow may be too late for the
hungry who are anxiously waiting your helping hands.
Let us join hands in this herculean effort to mitigate the suffering and
fear of death by starvation of our own brothers and sisters in Christ.
If you would like to send relief funds, please send your
tax deductible gifts to:
Presbyterian Mission International (PMI),
12330 Conway Road, St. Louis, Mo 63141
Other links on mautaam:
BBC:
Indian army's new enemy is rats
Cash
reward for rat tail delivery
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