Destitute kids suffer blockade impact
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 04 2011: For inmates of Kanglatongbi Children Home pursuing academic excellence exceed all other interests be it national, state or community issues for they too aspire to stand on their own feet on adulthood rather than depend on morsels their entire life.

It is with such goal that the orphanage centre, one of the oldest, recently faced a herculean challenge as Kanglatongbi was one of the epicentres of the Sadar Hills agitation.

Chatting with The Sangai Express, warden Chungson said children of the orphanage centre, most of them very young to understand cause of the agitation, endured sleepless nights ever since the movement starting with an indefinite bandh from August 1 prolonged in the form of economic blockade till the recent agreement between the Government and the agitation spearhead.

The sigh of relief on hearing end of the SHDDC movement soon dissipated as UNC reminded that the counter blockade is still on.

A file picture of people enforcing the SHDDC blockade at Kpi

The tumultuous period of the Sadar hills agitation is said to be by far the most horrendous experience the children were exposed to inspite of Manipur being not immune from such similar agitations.

According to the warden various incidents including torching of vehicles, office buildings and clashes between security forces and blockade supporters were sights of horror for the young children.

having witnessed or heard violent incidents due to close proximity of the orphanage to National Highway-2 it was understandable that academic concern of the children were put on the backburner, Chungson expressed.

Inspite of utmost care to shield the children from enduring undesired consequences violent incidents that took place near the orphanage centre had a deep impact on the mentality of the children who lost concentration on their studies, he observed hoping that the traumatic experience will not last long.

With minimal passenger service on the highway due to scarcity of fuel triggered by the economic blockade the situation got even more complicated when the children needed medical attention.

Apart from absence of transport facilities, Motbung Primary Health Centre, the nearest medical centre from the children home also remained affected due to poor attendance, he said and fervently appealed to the Government and any agitating body to strive for working out an honourable solution at the earliest.

Appealing to all concerned to give priority to humanitarian services, Chungson desired that alternative mode of agitation be pursued for the good of all.

The Kanglatongbi children Home established in 1947 currently have 60 children out of whom 15 are girls.

In addition to three children from different valley district, it is presently home to destitute children from the hill areas of Senapati, churachandpur, Tamenglong and chandel districts.