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| Features
>> December |
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Tousem, Tamei divisions - victim of Government neglect
By Ningamling Dangmei
Even as we embark upon a new millennium, a sharp contrast exists between these two sub-divisions and the rest of the state. The fate of the Tamei and Tousem subdivisions, in the north and south of Tamenglong district respectively, hangs in suspension, hit as it is by the neglect of government officials and local MLAs, and underdevelopment.
Tamei lies about 49 kms from Tamenglong H/Q and 62 kms from the state capital Imphal whereas Tousem which is the most backward subdivision in the most backward district lies in the southern part of the district bordering Nagaland and Assam and it is about 150 kms away from Tamenglong via Kaiphundai.
Tamei is the most popular among the subdivisions in Tamenglong for its beautiful scenery and its productive resources. But these two divisions are struggling with the prospect of a grim future due to the callous attitude of the government, the concerned MLAs and district officials.
Lack of basic amenities like health, education, transportation and communication infrastructure have severely affected the life of these two sub divisions specially Tousem division. The much vaunted promises by the concerned authorities to provide jobs, and others facilities like schools, roads, electricity, hospital and post office now seems to be a distant dream, says Pourang Zemei, general secretary Tousem Division Students Union.
The delay in realization of roads is only a symptom of the malady that has been affecting the people right since independence. It is worthy of mentioning that many villages of two blocks remain cut-off from the rest of the world during rainy seasons. Though the state government never forgets to collect hill house tax every year, they have been left behind as a people living in no man's land, which means no man's responsibility.
Immediate construction of roads and bridges may help in lessening some of the long-standing hardships being faced by the people. Especially, Tousem-Tamenglong road from Kaiphundai to the division head quarters is in very bad condition. And there is no existence of transport facilities in this area - not even a single bus from either the district headquarters or from any part of the state comes to this block.
Large and dangerous potholes are the feature of this road, which runs through the hill terrain. The holes are concealed by water during the rainy seasons and several vehicles particularly that of the Army who come to drop rations and other commodities etc. for those posted in the subdivision HQ - which have now withdrawn from the subdivision - have plunged down to the deep gorges and drivers have to be always careful to avoid similar mishaps. Some of the holes are 2-3 feet deep and 3-4 feet wide. The irony of the journey between Tamenglong to Tousem is the long and rigorous hours. It takes about 18-20 hours to reach Tousem from Tamenglong HQ. Once we reach the Tousem sub divisional headquarters we feel as if we have been beaten black and blue. The vocal demand of the people of this block is the construction of the roads from Tousem to Tamenglong via Namtiram village so that it will take only three or four hours to reach Tamenglong.
Traveling to the district headquarters from here takes a whole day on foot, which is the only means of transportations but as for the weaker people it takes more than two days to reached the district headquarters.
Apart from this, Tamei and Tousem subdivisions are represented by only one MLA though it is the largest in size so there are many villages in the interior, which are not reached by the MLA or district officials due to the bad communication and transportation facilities. It will take 2-3 days to reach Tousem from Tamei and vice versa Tamei to Tousem. Tamei is a bit better off than Tousem as far as transportation facilities go, as there is bus service from Tamenglong to Tamei though the fare for it is equal to Tamenglong to Imphal though barely located 49 kms from Tamenglong.
On the other hand, Tamei is practically caught in a time warp, as almost all the government offices are partially if not completely defunct.
Hospitals: - The newly constructed pucca building for Tousem PHC had been not used since its completion since it was not properly roofed. There are many potholes and cement and sands are not proportionate, broken walls and doors and windows are the feature of the new building. The infrastructure available in this PHC is inadequate - there is no microscope, operation facilities and office staff is extremely irregular.
The people of Tousem block have repeatedly requested for posting at least two doctors in the hospital but even not a single doctor is posted now. There is no microscopist, nor any staff nurses though these are required. Due to absence of doctors several epidemic prone diseases like typhoid, jaundice and cold diarrhea have claimed many young and old innocent lives in the block.
Besides the villagers have been also facing the acute problems of transporting ailing persons either to Tamenlong or Imphal due to nonexistence of transport facilities so that they to depend on their fate whether they will recover from their illness or end their life. There is no pharmacy and medicines available in the PHC are mostly outdated. More than 10 innocents lives have lost due to non-availability of medical facilities this year and not even nurse is posted in the PHC.
Education: - The education scenario is in a shambles with many villages reportedly having a few teachers like two teachers for five classes. Lack of maintenance of school buildings, dearth of classrooms and shortage of teachers has hampered primary education in the area. Furniture is not adequately provided for the students of such schools and some of the buildings are dilapidated. This system of disparity has made the prospect of bringing equality education even less likely. Those who can afford send their children outside the subdivision like Tamenglong or Imphal since there are no better schools exists in this block. But as for the poor they have to make do with poor education or apart from that none at all.
Tousem government Ashram high school in the H/Q is barely functioning due to non-availability of teachers for last 6 to 7 years. The government. Ashram high school, which runs under Central government, one of only two in the entire district is completely defunct since 4 -5 years. Pourang Zemei said that all the government offices like hospitals, Ashram high school, SDO office, police station, had been remaining without any staff for the last 4/5 years and this had virtually reduced the offices to the status of cowsheds.
He further added that most of the teachers of Ashram high school have been transferred away with the posts and never been replaced till today. Only four local Grade. IV and only a few teachers are running the school today. However, some of the teachers do not turn up for their duty though they collected their salaries every month. Moreover the SDO office in Tousem is maintained by just six Grade IV since the concerned SDO in charge is presently utilizing in Tamenglong H/Q but functioning as a visiting SDO for the block. And as for the police, the SDPO or even the OC has not seen by the people of Tousem for the last 7/8 years.
He also said that though the SK oil quota is regularly lifted from the distributor but it never reached the people. Sometimes it is diverted to other unseen channels, he said. Many villagers have not seen electricity so that some elderly people do not know what the electricity is. And even subdivision H/Q is not electrified till today, forgetting about the interior villages thus depriving them of linkages like access to TV, and poor net work of banks means there is little hope of encouraging saving and for transaction since no bank exists in this block. All weather roads crisscrossing the block assured power and telecom services, presence of marketing support and net-work of banks are the most requisite for industrial development but unfortunately none of these infrastructures is available in this block.
There is high potential for growing oranges, bananas, and other fruits. But without proper roads for transportation facilities and infrastructure for storage, without electricity and without banks for financial prospect the potential remains an unfulfilled dream. No electricity, no adequate medical facilities, no telecommunication, no transportation service, completely defunct offices, no bank, no post office, no market these are the few feature of this block. It's really a pitiful sight to see this people living their life in acute neglect and perplexity.
(The writer is the IFP correspondent for Tamenglong district.)
(Courtesy: The Imphal Free Press) |
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