Food shortage has emerged at a Dalit settlement in Photu VDC-1 of Mugu because of crop failure after a prolonged drought.

Thirty-two families in Rawalbadaare settlement are having difficulty managing even one square meal a day as they lack the wherewithal to buy food. Many families cannot even afford to buy the subsidised rice sold by Nepal Food Corporation (NFC).

One of the villagers, Birjan Damai, said his family of five has been living on 800 grams of rice flour per day.

“We are running out of food. We could die of starvation if the situation continues,” he said.

Mugu district has not received enough rain since last July. After the winter crops started dying due to lack of rain, the people in Rawalbadaare used whatever savings they had to buy rice and other foodstuffs. Some even borrowed money to feed their families.

Another villager Dhane Damai said since they did not have money to buy food, they were relying on roots and tubers from the forest to stay alive these days.

“We hope the political leaders will visit our village with food,” Damai said.

Besides Rawalbadaare, the Dalit families in 21 other villages of Mugu, including Natharpu Jima, Rara, Kalai, Dhainakot, Bihi and Ruga, are also reeling under the food shortage.

Chairman of the District Food Security Committee Shambhu Prasad Regmi said they have demanded 6,000 quintals of rice to distribute in the settlements that are reeling under food shortage.