Imphal, December 13 2009: Residents of Liyai village in Senapati district have extolled the acitivities of Information Centre for Hill Areas, Manipur (ICHAM) saying that if everybody in Manipur does as the ICHAM has been doing, the relationship between the hills and the plains people will be very strong.

The villagers were talking to office-bearers of ICHAM and a team of pressmen yesterday at Liyai village.

The combined team went to get a first-hand report of developmental activities, if any, and also to participate in the inaugural ceremony of the 44th Annual Sports Meet organised by the Liyai (Zhaimai) Youth & Students' Union in memory of Dasao Thorii.

Villagers of Liyai Khullen in Paomata sub-division, Senapati district, namely S Ngaopumei and Th Hrokho said that the leaders of ICHAM had been going to the remote interior parts of the hill districts of Manipur to know the problems and complaints of the people in those areas, and bring them to the notice of the government authorities.

The ICHAM had also been contributing its mite in helping the villagers of the interior areas to reduce their present day problems.

The ICHAM has awaken the government, the Liyai youth leaders said adding, this has improved the bond of brotherhood between the peoples of the hill and the valley.

They also said that many valley-based organisations were shouting hoarse about integrity of Manipur, while the people of the hills were protecting the state's boundary.

There is no use in shouting for integrity in the valley, the youth leaders said.

"Unless you come to the hills and see for yourself, you will not know the problems being faced by the hills' people," they said.

Liyai Khullen is a village inhabitate by people of Phaomei tribe.

There are 1,350 clans in all in the village, and the population is 13,500 .

There is one Junior High School in the village.

However, the school building has become worse than a cow-shed.

There are no teachers at the school.

The Primary Health Centre located at the village needs to be upgraded considering the population of the village.

As there is not doctor at the PHC, villagers have to travell about 20 kms to Paomata for any treatment.

The main resources of the village are agricultral produce and domestic animals.

However, there is no veterinary office.

In the event of the domestic animal falling ill, widespread death occur frequently causing misery to the villagers.

The villagers urged the authorities to set up a veterinary and also an office of PHED.

The road communication connecting Tadubi and Liyai village has remained unrepaired and undeveloped for ages despite the government spending crores of rupees.

The villagers expressed their desire for the Works Minister, K Ranjit to personally visit the village so that he will see for himself how bad the road is.

President of ICHAM, N Rajendro was the chief guest at the opening ceremony of the sports meet.

President of Christian Forum presided over the ceremony.

The villagers requested the president of ICHAM to help developing a sports ground and a field for basketball.

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