Arunachal Pradesh: With their food supply chain being cut-off following a nationwide lockdown imposed to contain the spread of coronavirus disease, a tribal community living in a remote district of Arunachal Pradesh is on the brink of starvation and have been forced to turn to their ancestral food ‘Tasse’.
Inhabited mainly by Nyishi tribe, the residents of Damin and Paniasang - two administrative circles in the Kurung Kumey district along the Indo-China border in Arunachal Pradesh - have resorted to the preparation of 'Tasse' - a local staple food consumed by their forefathers - due to non-availability of rice and other essential food items.
It has been quite a few days since our supply of ration has been cut off due to coronavirus outbreak...So, everyone is gathered here to make ‘tasse’, something that their ancestors used to consume. We would like to make an appeal to the government to help the people of Damin and Paniasang circles with essential food items,” said a local resident.
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'Tasse' is scientifically known as 'Wallichia disticha'. It is a form of food consumed by certain communities living along with the Indo-China border areas since an early age.
Earlier, the residents of these two land-locked circles had sought assistance from the Deputy Commissioner of Kurung Kumey district requesting an immediate supply of ration.
