Go to Village Mission reaches remotest hamlet
Govt officials visit Chakha village after 1984
Source: The Sangai Express
Senapati, December 18 2018:
Reaching out to the remotest village of Senapati district, District Administration, Senapati, organized 'Go to Village' program at Chakha village of the district.
It may be mentioned that a team headed by Somorjit Salam, DC, Senapati and consisting of Wilong Sub-Division SDO Kh Tompok and different DLOs of 16 different Departments under the District Administration, went by foot to the village, which is situated around 180 kilometres from Senapati DHQ near the Nagaland border and which is only accessible for four months in a year by vehicle.
The village, which falls under Tadubi A/C, is one of the most remotest areas which is populated by Liangmei tribe and this village is accessible only during winter when there is no rain underlining the lack of proper road connectivity.
The officials enquired about the grievances and needs of the locals at the village as a part of the Go To Village programme apart from providing other immediate aids as well.
The locals expressed that this is the first time since 1984 that top Government officials have come to the village.
In the said year (1984) the then DC RK Madhusana visited the area.
Speaking to The Sangai Express, the village authority chairman Ndawi Liangmei said that he is engulfed with emotions at witnessing Government officials visiting the village and enquiring about the needs of the people.
He said that people from the village, which has just 63 clans and a population of 530 individuals, have to travel for around 4 hours by foot just to reach the nearest town as the village has no facility for transport (except the four months period during winter season).
He continued that when there are cases of child delivery in the village, a stretcher is made and the locals carry the woman around 10 kilometres till Maram Peren road.
And even then, the villagers have to pay around Rs 4500-5000 just to travel to Senapati, he added.
Explaining that parents from the village also make necessary arrangements at Senapati to send much needed things and items to their children who are studying at other places, before the monsoon season arrives, the chairman added that in July this year, the village finally got the necessary facility for a solar light but there is no electricity till date.
He continued that the villagers have to travel around 4 kilometres to get drinking water and added that as the GI pipe laid by the Government failed to reached the village, a plastic pipe was connected as extension.
The village also has no medical facilities, he lamented.
On the other hand, the village secretary P Jon wangbou said that the village can listen to radio but has only two TV sets (with Tata Sky).
The only Government officials in the village are the Government teachers of the primary school in the village and the peon, he added.
The secretary continued that the pressing need of the villagers is proper road connectivity and drinking water facility.
During the GTV programme, a large number of villagers came out to the village Church.
They also had their Aadhaar cards made, opened bank accounts and had their health checked.
The village dogs were also vaccinated as well.
On the other hand, one Thankiliu (who received a free LPG connection as a part of the GTV prog) also expressed happiness at the GTV mission reaching the village.
However, this reporter came across one surprising thing in the village-Even though the village had many old age people (above 60 years of age) none of them had received any benefits of old age pension and today's GTV mission happened to be the first they were getting a chance to take the necessary forms for availing the old age pension.
Speaking to The Sangai Express, 82 year old Longbou said that he has not received any pension but he has taken a form from today's function.
He also happily added that he has received a health check and necessary medicines as well.
On the other hand, Senapati DC Somorjit stressed on the importance of having an Aadhaar card and a bank account to avail numerous benefits and appealed to the people to take the opportunity to avail the said items.
He also assured the villagers that necessary steps will be taken up at the earliest to provide fresh drinking water facility to the village.
During the GTV mission, the DC distributed free gas connection, LED lights, fish feeds and seeds as well.