Tribals in border villages of Uttarakhand's Kumaon region are forced to depend on Chinese food grain bought from Nepalese markets due to the shortage of supply of government rations.

Krishna Garbiyal, who was a part of a delegation of Vyas valley villagers, met Dharchula SDM on Friday to demand an increase in supply of rations under the Public Distribution System (PDS).

"The quota of rations supplied by the state government falls short of our requirements. So much so that some of the villagers have had to depend on Chinese foodgrain bought from markets in Nepal," tribal leader Krishna Garbiyal told PTI.

A bridge over Kali river near Garbiyang connects India with Nepal. Villagers cross this bridge to buy rations from the markets of Tinkar and Changru villages of the neighbouring country to meet their daily needs.

Apart from the insufficient quota of ration, even the allotted amount has not reached the villagers in time. The villagers received their last rations before the onset of Monsoon, PTI reported.

"The government allocates five kg of wheat and two kg of rice per month to each family which is far from enough. We have demanded several times to increase the ration quota for families residing in high altitudes as these areas do not grow grains like wheat or paddy," Garbiyal added.

A 49 km stretch from Mangti to Gunji was being repaired for nearly six months which made sending rations on mules to the villages really difficult this year. With the road route being rebuilt, the administration has to depend on helicopters to transport rations to Vyas valley villages.

"Over 72.5 quintals of ration were sent to Vyas valley villages by helicopters before the Monsoon began. The ration for October, November and December are yet to be sent to the villages," Dharchula SDM RK Pandey told PTI.

He said the administration is also in contact with the Army to avail its helicopters for the purpose.

Due to the road route under repairs, the winter migration of Vyas valley villagers to lower areas is likely to face a delay, Garbiyal said.

In a memorandum submitted to the SDM, the villagers have made a number of demands including an increase in quota of rations and continuation of helicopter service which was for Kailash Mansoravar yatra tourists, so that ration could be supplied to the villages and the residents could migrate to lower valley.

The service was closed after the pilgrimage's conclusion last month.

"Either the under-construction road be completed from Lakhanpur to Nazang, or cheap helicopter service be extended to November 18 to speed up supply of rations and to enable Vyas valley tribals to come down to the lower valley for migration," PTI quoted Kushal Singh Napalchayal, a villager who led the delegation.

Over 2,000 villagers from five villages of Gunji, Napachu, Rongkong, Nabi and Kuti will migrate from high-altitude villages to their lower valley residences from first week of November, he said.

"The villagers need ration even for the months of November, December as they stack it away for the summer months when they return to their homes March onwards," Napalchyal said.

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