Deforestation issue in the hills; No alternatives for they have to eat
Source: The Sangai Express / Laishram Shamungou

Khoibu (Chandel), February 06 2009: Notwithstanding the world wide campaign to save environment and ecology, burning of forests to make way for agriculture and lumbering of trees for firewood and charcoal go on unabated in areas along the border with Myanmar in Churachandpur, Chandel and Ukhrul districts.

This was observed during an extensive tour of these border villages.

With wanton deforestation continuing for years, many of the villages located along the 350 kms long boundary with Myanmar have been facing water scarcity.

Bags of charcoal being piled up along side the lane to meet the needs of the villagers in the hills

The villagers have to walk long distances just to fetch a few litres of water.

Each of these border villages has two/three Shaktiman trucks to transport timber.

Apparently least concerned or probably unknown to the depleting forest area and its adverse impacts on ecology and climate, one Molcham villager asked what should they do other than felling trees for timber/firewood trade or burning wood to make charcoal to earn their livelihood.

Earning maximum during the dry season from timber, firewood or charcoal trade and storing up all requirements for the rainy season is the usual practice of the villagers, they said.

On being asked about condition of roads, most of the villagers just said, "the road is good, it's fit for Shaktiman trucks".

On one occasion, the vehicle in which this reporter was travelling got stuck in a depressed portion of the road.

The vehicle was pushed with the help of poachers who went hunting in the night.

Wildlife are found abundantly in these border villagers.

Even as the State has its law which prohibits /hunting/killing of wildlife, the villagers don't know anything about such a law.

Even if some of them happen to know, they could not give their traditional practice for lack of any alternative of earning income.

Challou is a village in Ukhrul district just in the neighbourhood.

In the past, salt produced in the village were sold to valley people at a place known as Challou in Lamlai.

During the reign of king Nar Singh, the brine pits of Challou were guarded by soldiers.

Bunkers built of boulders used by the soldiers stands at Challou still today.

The king also visited the brine pits.

Chief of the village inhabited by around 62 families N Sanrei said that the main source of earning income for the villages was manufacturing salt.

Each household is engaging in manufacturing salt and they can earn Rs 5000 per month on average.

Saying that the salt produced there was sold in Myanmar as well as in Manipur valley for use by women in post delivery period, the chief said that the villagers are also rearing pigs and buffaloes with the money earned from selling salt.

As regards Government assistance, there is none to talk about, he said.

Considering the large quantity of firewood required in manufacturing salt, the villagers have resolved to cut down trees judiciously, conveyed the chief.

Khoibu village is located in Machi sub-division and is exclusively inhabited by the Khoibu tribe.

The village comprises of 79 families.

Since early days, the main occupation of Khoibu villagers is making yangkok (a household winnowing article).

Yangkok produced in the village have also been exported beyond Nagaland, said one villager.

Women traders of Heirok and Khangabok bought yangkok from Khoibu village at Rs 70 per piece.

They sold them at Rs 100 or above per price in the markets.

Talking about their product, the villagers said, "Khoibu yangkoks are in high demands.

The only problem is that we cannot meet the demands".

Almost all the villagers including women and youths are engaged in making yangkoks.

Some people make upto 10 yangkoks in a day.

Bamboo being the principal raw material for making yangkoks, a monetary fine of Rs 500 is imposed if bamboos are affected while burning open fields.

Saying that they are able to send their children to schools at Pallel from the income earned from making yangkoks, the villagers conveyed desire for the Government to make arrangements so that Khoibu villagers can stock yangkoks at Imphal for marketing here.