The food-hit remote areas in Gorkha district have been affected by the delay in supply of subsidised rice.

As the state-run food agency, Nepal Food Corporation (NFC), has been unable to transport rice to the affected areas in time, the authorities have reduced the ration for this year.

The NFC depot had been distributing 3,000 quintals of rice in Chumanubri Rural Municipality annually. This year, only 2,000 quintals of rice has been allocated.

“Last year, too, there was a delay in rice supply. And when the supply was finally made by the end of fiscal year, there was a surplus,” said Dhana Bahadur Gurung, chairman of Chumanubri Rural Municipality.

A similar situation is likely to repeat this year as well, added Gurung.

 The demand for subsidised rice gets high during festivals and winter season.

According to Gurung, delay in tender process is causing the supply delay.

Though the tender for transportation of rice was called in mid-June, the supply only began from mid-December.

Mohan Prasad Bajagain, officiating chief of the NFC depot at Chumanubri, said the tender process was getting cancelled and delayed due to frequent changes in transportation fare.

“If we can ensure smooth supply of rice, the people won’t have to rely on rice sold by local shopkeepers at high rates,”he said.