Another district hood demand emerges ; Tongjei Maril also demand District hood
Source: Hueiyen News Service /NNN

Imphal, September 03 2011: Yet another district hood demand have emerged in the state.

Tongjei Maril District Demand Committee (TMDDC) has come up with its demand for creation of a separate district by bifurcating the existing districts of Churachandpur, Tamenglong, Jiribam (Imphal East) and Senapati.

Speaking to media persons at the Manipur Press Club,Convener, TMDDC, Abon Kamei said that a memorandum to this effect had already been submitted to the then CM of Manipur in July 11, 1998 and the memorandum submitted on August 30, 2011 is only a reminder.

With this, there are now five active movements demanding the creation of full fledged districts in Tongjei Maril, Phungyar, Sadar Hills, Jiribam, Tengnoupal.

An area of 952 sq km encompassing Lower Lukhambi of Tamenglong district in the north, Churanchandpur district's Tuangtu and Tuiphai, Thanlon-Nungsei Kolhen Chothe Munpi of Henglep subdivision to the south, Senapati district's Sadar Hills' New Keithelmanbi and Chini-Inkhol to the east and Imphal East's Jiribam's Gularthol and Tousem subdivision's Kaiphundai to the west, comprising of 150 villages and one of the most underdeveloped area of the state have been proposed to be created into a full fledged district, noted Abon Kamei.

He further went on to say that the approximate population of the proposed district is one lakh composing of Aimol, Gangte, Chiru, Baite, Meitei, Bihari, Bengali Neisel, Haokip, Kipgen, Paite, Zou, Sitlhou, Singsit, Samte, Simte, Vaiphei, Singson, Kharam, Khasi, Hmar, Kom, Nepali, Zeliangrong Zemei, Liangmai, Tongmei, Puimei, all indigenous to the area in question.

Kamei observed that all essential commodities from Silchar was once traditionally brought in through a narrow conduit along the Tongjei Maril by villagers on foot that required several days hiking.

The Zeliangrong people carried the palanquin of King Charairongba in 1704 AD when he went on his pilgrimage to Brindavan through Tongjei Maril and onto Silchar, he said.

He said that the people of the area had extended support by enlisting as soldiers during the reign of King Bhagyachandra and King Gambhir Singh whose sacrifices and martyrdom are still fondly remembered to this day.

He said that healthcare delivery services are pathetic with no doctors and nurses to attend to the healthcare needs of the people.

Many women have died while giving birth, not to mention deaths due to snake bite.

The only means of reaching the area is by tracking through the forests for 3-4 days.

There is virtual no education system in the area, he said.

Kamei said that the development deficit of the area could only be addressed with the creation of a full fledged district.

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