Imphal, April 04 2010: Amidst mixed reports of the failure and success of NREGS in benefiting targeted beneficiaries, the Central Govt sponsored scheme is seen as a god given boon in Sikibung village, located about 4 kms away from Litan police station.

Since the village came into being, plantation of yongchak (tree bean) is the most important means of earning income.

Each household of the village which numbers around 120 had 10 yongchak trees.

Each of these trees yielded yongchak worth Rs 4000 annually.

On the average, each family could earn Rs 40,000 in a year by selling yongchak.

However, this year, around 90 per cent of the yongchak trees growing in the village have withered due to a disease unknown to the villagers.

This severely curtailed the villagers' most fundamental means of earning livelihood.

Just as the villagers were reeling under harsh economic impact of the dead of yongchak trees, NREGS came as a saviour to Sikibung.

Besides executing community welfare works and projects, the scheme enabled the villagers to earn the much needed hard money.

Though not adequate, wages received for working under NREGS helped the villagers meet their basic requirements in addition to sending children to school.

Had there been no NREGS, the Sikibung villagers would have been facing untold misery due to dead of yongchak trees.

Besides ensuring jobs, the scheme gave extra benefit of keeping the village neat and clean.

The more valuable benefit gained by the villagers from NREGS is work culture boosted by the scheme.

Interestingly, NREGS also helped in reminding the Sikibung villagers that there is a Government.

Until the day NREGS was implemented in their village, Sikibung had long forgotten that presence of any Government.

Notwithstanding many roads have been developed within their village under NREGS, the villagers have been facing great difficulties when it comes to travelling outside their village as the bridge built over Thoubal river has not been completed till date.

The bridge is vital to Sikibung as it would connect the village to Imphal-Ukhrul road (NH 150) and Litan.

Though vehicles can cross Thoubal river along the river bed in winter season, it is quite risky to cross the river during rainy season when water surface rises, conveyed the villagers.

They further appealed to the Government to finish construction of the bridge at the earliest so that it may enhance in business.

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