Despite the ongoing aggressive campaign to develop the interior border
areas of the country, it is a pity that people living in the frontier
villages of south east Manipur still have yet to see the
trickling-effect of the ambitious Border Area Development Program being implemented
by the Union Government of India.
Tales of neglect and total lack of
administration are abound along Indo-Myanmar border in Manipur as
discovered during a rural area reporting initiatives conducted in the border
areas of South east Manipur. What is even more disturbing is the wide
spread practice of opium cultivation which the marginalized farmers of the
area have taken to, compelled by trying circumstances.
There is no doubt that the landscape of Manipur is enchanting,
especially when one proceeds deeper in the interiors. However the picture
post-card image betrays the real stories of the people living in these
highlands, far away from the cities. Maybe that's why their concerns are
never addressed. The dictum, 'out of sight, out of mind' could be the
official justification.
The first stop after leaving Imphal is the sleepy village of Joupi
village in Chandel district of Manipur. The villagers disclose that there
is an acute water scarcity in the village. Although the village kids are
excited to see new faces with flashy equipments stepping into their
village, a close look at them tells of their pitiable conditions.
Malnutrition, lack of health care programs is glaring. Luckily, thanks to Assam
Rifles that literally controls the village, the road up to Hengshi is
very good in comparison but the happy story ends at Holezang, a villages
comprising of only 5 houses and said to be the last post under the
control of Indian security forces, posted to contain the growing
insurgency.
Beyond this village, the paramilitary forces have no presence and
armed rebels are said to call the shots. Although there was neither
electricity nor water supply, thanks to the solar energy technology, the
youngsters of Holezang could enjoy a local video film on a TV set after the
day's hard work in the fields.
In the morning, the rural reporting team had to proceed on foot as it
is the only available mode of travel with roads abandoned and lying
disused, scarred by the violent unrest of the times.
After hours of trekking in the hilly terrain, the next stop was the
fairly large village of Sehlon, located in close proximity with Myanmar.
With a population of 500, the village is most suited for coffee and
ginger plantation. Unfortunately due to want of proper marketing and
transportation facilities, these ventures have not become economically
viable.
As warned by the security forces, in Sehlon village we countered
underground cadres, who the villagers say were the only people who came to
their aid in troubled times. During an interaction, the Chief of Sehlon
said the shortcomings of his and adjourning villages are too many to
enumerate but the most serious ones are in the field of education, health
care and electricity.
'It is as if the government has completely
forgotten us and the same story goes for every village in the surrounding
areas. In the field of medical, food - we've to rely on Burma. No
representative of the medical dept has ever set foot in the village. Even in
the field of education, we've only one teacher assigned to our village
but that too have not bothered to report for duty. Fearing for the future
of our children, we've engaged some educated youths of the village and
run a private school' said the village chief.
With the administration, literally turning a blind eye, armed cadres
are seen performing unfamiliar roles with concerned parents approaching
them for medicine and health-care. The underground cadres gladly comply
when a worried mother, carrying her sick boy, sought for medical advice
and medicine for her boy. The 3 years old is diagnosed of suffering
from malaria. He has not eaten in days and has high fever.
The young cadres after carefully examining the boy, prescribed medicine and advice the
mother how to nurse her son back to health. Most of the time, the armed
rebels are their only hope for medicine. This kind of story is reported
to be common as the area is malaria prone. Probably for those in
military service, be it the state forces or the radicals, civic action
program are an inevitable way to garner trust and public support.
As the team moved on after a night halt, little hamlets of few houses
that dot the cloudscapes set the media wondering why these villagers
prefer to lived in these treacherous terrain even when most places are
unfit for rice cultivation. The reason was shocking.
With no one to turn to in times of their needs, villages in this
remotest part, perched at high altitudes, almost hidden perpetually by mist,
had no other option but to harvest opium to ensure their rice supply
from Burma. The villagers disclosed that one kg of opium is exchanged for
6 bags of rice or for 8000 rupees. Sometimes a kg of opium gets as much
as 20,000 rupees.
Large areas of forest are burned for poppy
cultivation, oblivious to the invisible state authority. Ngankho Ngamkhomang, a
village chief said, 'because our fields are not suited for rice
cultivation, we've taken to opium trade as our only source of income.
Before,
we used to grow mustard for its seeds and other cash crops but the
earning was marginal due to lack marketing facilities. We had to start poppy
cultivation because we need rice to eat. The Burmese from across the
border offer to exchange their rice for opium and give us poppy seeds.
With government ignoring us completely, this is our only means of
procuring rice.'
Fortunately, all the poppy growing villages in this part of the State
had a way to prevent opium-use amongst its folks. If a person is caught
using opium, the family is instantly prohibited to cultivate opium
anymore.
Lured by the lucrative opium trade, marginalized hill farmers from
other districts have started abandoned their paddy fields and are migrating
to this part just to grow poppy. A mate farmer who migrated for Saikhul
village in Senapati district said he couldn't resist the temptation of
growing opium and becoming rich quickly. 'Growing poppy is fairly easy
and requires less labour but the income is truly amazing. It makes
sense for a marginalized farmers like me to come to this part of the state
and grow poppy to fulfill our family needs' says young Mate.
Although scenic beauty at every turns speaks of the tremendous tourism
potential of the State, one cannot avoid noticing the deprivation of
the people, especially of the children. To everybody's surprise, a
spent-artillery-shell fired by the Indian forces during an encounter with the
rebels is an improvised school-bell for a privately run school.
Alarming as it maybe, the sound of this artillery bell has the desired effect
on the 20 odd kids that attend this private school run by a single
teacher who is still in her teens. Even though Vienei Kim wanted to pursue
higher studies after completing her matriculation, she couldn't afford
due to economic constrains. Her contribution and her desire to kindle
the light of education in this far flung area are truly admirable and
put the government to shame who have failed miserably, especially of
providing education to every child in the country.
'In our village the
government has not set up any educational facilities. That's why I've to
help teach these students' says Kim. Although she is supposed to be paid
70 rupees per student, she hardly complains when most parent fail to
honour their words at the end of every month. Kim goes on teaching her 20
odd students undeterred for it is not for the money but the conviction
that education is their only hope for a bright future that constantly
drives her.
The story of these people who inhabit the periphery areas in the south
east of Manipur, bordering Myanmar is surely a sorry tale of neglect
and abandon.
Despite their helplessness and literally caught in the
crossfire between the guns of the Indian security forces and the insurgents,
every night these villagers pray that their government will come to
their aid some day and take care of their.
But the impending question when will their prayers be answered.
* Bachaspatimayum Sunzu contributes for the first time to E-pao.net
The writer can be reached at [email protected]
This article was webcasted on May 29th, 2006
|