Source: The Imphal Free Press
Imphal, December 18:
A year after the much-hyped seminar organized by the Union ministry of home affairs for the development of Tamenglong district, the people of this district are as completely disillusioned with the Centre as they are with local politicians who routinely break the promises they make at election times.
According to local representatives, not one of the many promises made by the joint secretary, Union ministry of home affairs, GK Pillai at the development seminar, held in November 2000, have been fulfilled.
The 21 point action plan drawn up by Pillai at the seminar included development of roads and bridges in the district, development of the power section, development of education, setting up of a CJM court for the district, improvement of water supply, setting up of a government ITI in the district, establishment of a tea board, development of rubber plantation, provision of training for self-employment, installation of AIR and DDK transmitters in the district etc.
However, none of these have been implemented so far.
The district, which has a geographical area of 4391 sq kilometres, and a population of 108295 as per the latest census, remains the most backward in Manipur.
Road and transportation facilities here are in the worst state.
As per official figures, of the 242 villages of the district, 50 villages are connected by black-topped roads, 48 by all-weather roads, 26 by fair weather roads, while the rest 118 villages have no road connection at all.
Moreover, most of the blacktopped and all-weather roads are in poor condition, and traveling anywhere in the district is still a trial.
While the government claims that 89% of the state has been electrified, barely 50% of the villages in Tamenglong district have been electrified.
Education-wise, the district has 130 primary schools under the district Council, while under the ZEO, there are a further 110 schools, including higher secondary schools, high schools, junior high schools and UJB schools.
There are also around 50 private schools.
Most schools in the district however suffer from an acute lack of teachers, particularly in science and mathematics, because these are frequently transferred elsewhere, quite often with post.
Most schools' infrastructure are extremely poor, and there are complaints from the local people of the lack of DIET or other training facilities, and facilities for non-formal and adult education.
The water supply system in most of the villages is primitive.
A total of 17 handpumps have been installed in the entire district.
Of these, 12 are in Tamenglong block, two in Nungba and three in Tamei.
Around 65% of the population in the district is recorded as below the poverty line, as against the all India average of 40%.The bulk of the people, 86%, is engaged in agriculture, much of it subsistence agriculture.
Most parts of the district are malaria, typhoid and TB epidemic zones.
The district has a district hospital, six primary health centres and 29 primary health sub-centres, but most of these are undermanned, many without a single doctor.
The district also suffers in comparison with other districts in terms of police administration as well.
There are just 112 civil police personnel under the district SP, and the five police stations and lone police outpost in the district are severely undermanned.