Tamenglong Today: an introspection
- Part 1 -

Dr. Kamei Sanjit Rongmei *

Buning - Tamenglong - The Natural Paradise :: Pix - Gaikhamdim Marangmei

Tamenglong is the name of a district of Manipur located in the western region of the state. It is mainly the home of one of the ethnic groups who call themselves boldlywith pride as Rongmei. It is scenically a beautiful place situated on the lofty mountain top where Rongmei people strongly feel the touchysense of clear sky with their handsevery morning.

Human mind and pen could not sufficiently describe its natural scenic beauty that the almighty God had so perfectly designed.It is a place with all the comfortable climates and fresh natural products that nature provides for the dwellers to live a healthy life. It is also a birth place of one and only a blessed pioneer HaipouJadonangMalangmei, the man who possess all the necessary qualities to be called a savior of the communities.

Since the time of British in the year 1919 the first sub-division office in Manipur Hills was set up in this place. It became a full-fledged district in 1969 and the first Deputy Commissioner was posted. It was known as Manipur West District however, finally, it was renamed as Tamenglong District (Census, 2001).

In this exotic place, people of same culture, custom, tradition, religion, language, food habits, life stylelive closely together making a classless, casteless or creedless society. Socially they practice humility, hospitality and concerned for one another as their way of life. They enjoy the fullest satisfaction in term of livelihood management blessed with resourceful natural products. However, modern technological application and approach is felt an urgent necessity to develop the abundant raw resources. Here special developmental attention is sought from Civil and Govt. sector to initiate resource development and management undertaking in the District.

The District is known for its many virgin forest resources, viable tourist attract Natural resources, riches of underground mineral resources etc which can be a perpetual sustainable generating sources for survival of the people.

Brief Demographic Profile of Tamenglong

This district is bounded by Nagaland state in the north,Senapati district in the northeast,Churachandpur district in the south and by Imphal West district and Assam state in the west. In 2011 census Tamenglong district become the least populous district of Manipur (140,143). The district occupies an area of 4391 sq km. it has a population density of 32 inhabitants per square kilometer.

Its population growth rate reaches up to 25.69 %. Sex ratio of 953 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 70.4 %.

Altitude lies (above MSL) 1260 m,
Latitude (HQ) 24.59 N
Longitude (HQ) 93.30 E,
Humidity 76 (Min) 92 (Max),
Rainfall (HQ) 3135 mm, and
Temperature 31oC (Max) 4oC (Min).

All this demographic profile shows the normal ranges which are favorable habitation. When nature has given so much of potential resources, the backward position can be turned to forward or advance area if these naturally available resources are properly tapped and developed.

Many govt. developmental works during these six decades since independencewere implemented in various departments directly by govt. or through public of Tamenglong. However, no significant sign of changes and prosperity were observed so far. Today the district remains one among the most backward district of the state as well as of India.

A serious study and practical developmental undertaking need to be emphasized for the District. Road and communication condition and systemare in very pathetic and deplorable state which is directly barring all developmental activities in the district. The facts should be addressed on a priority basis. Regenerating the society with new and wider mental outlook is the need of the hour.

Let us consider certainfactorsleading to the backwardness of the District:

1. Communication and transportation problems:

When the world is pacing fast in the fifth generation in terms of communication and mass media development turning this worlda global village, Tamenglong district remains remote and distant from net-working world, subsequently people are still under backward and remote to the rest of the world.Mobile connection is one sure example indicating the neglected and backwardness of the community and district as a whole.

Having so used to the deficient system of people administration and remote position from information of the world, the people are so satisfied and habituated that they do not have any complain. They don't even have the courage or knowledge the where about and how to information for such inquiry.Latest and current technological information and accessibility Right to information (RTI), UDHR, UDIR are still a new and rare to the people of Tamenglong.

One appalling and dismal condition the people of Tamenglong are facing is road and transportation, which often claims lives by frequent accident due to terrible road condition. Many sick death on the way to hospital caused by deadly jerking of vehicles. Whom do we blame?TheGovt.?The people representatives or the people?

2. Road and Transportation connectivity:

The road coverage in the district is very limited and in a very poor condition. Only NH-53 (NH- 37) and three State Highways- IT Road, Old Cachar Road and TamenglongKhongsang Road passes through and connecting the district. Presently the only NH-53 running between Imphal and Jiribam / Silchar having some 200kms and Tamenglong- Khongsang Road (39.5km) are but barely motorable round the year.

There are considerable disparities within the district e.g. 56.33 percent villages in the Nungba sub-division are not covered by any road whereas in Tamei sub-division 59.615 percent are without any movable road. The district has no railway connectivity and the nearest airport is at Imphal, 153 km away from the district headquarter (Census, 2011) we all can simply imagine the type of problemsvillagers of the district are facing.

If the proposed and the acceptance of the Central Govt. in principle for the conversion of the following Road connectivity is materialized:- 1) Road from Bishnupur to Haflong via Rengpang, Khongsang, Tamenglong and Tousem into NH53(A) and 2) Road from Kangpokpi to Haflong via Tamei, Tamenglong and Tousem into NH39(A) to link with Super Highway NH54 Lumding to Silchar, then, that can be a big lift and relief for the people.

It is the entire responsibility ofevery citizen of the district to improve the condition of the ill-fated district. There is no reason for slacking, indifference, or making excuse from participating in the move for bringing or making the proposed project into a reality.

3. Geographical strata:

The landmass of this district is believed to have been formed due to orogenic movement during cretaceous and Eocene period. The main rock formations of the district are sandstone, shale, schist which isweak and fragile in nature. Itcan easily cause sudden landslide during rainy season (Census, 2011). More attention and precaution is required to avert any possible natural disaster that may occur in such loose and unstable type of landmass.

Proper policy and precautionary measures should be formulated and made informed to the people to prevent, reduce or manage any natural eventuality. The Govt. of India through the state Govt. should look into the matter with utmost attention; forming a disaster management committee in the District with special provision made available for effective service delivery.

4. Education:

Provision for easy access to proper and adequate education facilities and opportunities should be extended to and for the community. Education being the back bone of development must be prioritized and its importance made well informed to the people through concerned department. The present reality and constraining condition is that, many parents could not afford to send their children to better school or colleges with such poor background learning experience from the district level education.

The result of which many of our students could not excel or compete with the better off children from the advanced districts. When students of the district could not compete with other better off students, due to lack of quality education or even basic education program in the district, disappointments leads them to frustration and relinquishes their study and classed them as dropouts.

Many students were dropped out from the schools and colleges during their early stages. These dropped outs turned to trouble makers in the society by resorting to illegal means of finding their own survival and pleasure.Concern that even a basic education cannot be properly introduced in the districthow can we think of higher and technical education, or expect the students to achieve better in their studies?

The following table indicates the rate and ratio of dropped outs showing the factual picture of the district devoid of proper educational infrastructure.

Gross and Net Enrolment Ratio and dropout rate in Tamenglong district-2005-06

Sources: govt., of Manipur Education Department

The GER/NER data clearly reveals high incidence of drop outs from primary to upper primary level. The NER at the upper primary level is less than half the ratio at the primary level. Further, although at the primary level the NER for boys and girls is same, at the upper primary level, the ratio is higher among girl students which indicates the male drop out is higher at the upper primary level.

To be continued ....