Khayang villagers yearn for healthcare facility, connectivity
Source: Chronicle News Service / Oinam Mission
Imphal, October 26 2022:
While pathetic healthcare infrastructure has been a major issue in the far-flung areas of the state, absence of public healthcare facilities is posing serious challenge to the survival of people in Khayang village.
Apart from other hardships due to absence of basic infrastructure, the most important issue that the residents of the village located close to the Indo - Myanmar border in Kamjong district at a distance of about 175 km from Imphal and around 90 km from Ukhrul town along the Shirui road, is in the health sector.
Due to poor road condition and absence of healthcare facilities in the nearby area, villagers in need of medical attention including problematic child delivery often meet their ultimate end before reaching any hospital.
Some villagers told The People's Chronicle that there is no health centre in the village or nearby villages.
As a result, the villagers face extreme difficulties in times of medical needs.
In case of medical emergency, they have to go to Ukhrul or Imphal, which is not an easy task since a journey to Ukhrul means staying overnight in the town.
Besides, the poor road condition is another added risk to the commuters, they said.
There are two rivers - Lusha and Machu, en-route to Ukhrul but due to absence of bridge, they have to wade cross the river.
However, their way gets often blocked during rainy season as the river flows in full spate.
The road connecting the village with Ukhrul is also narrow and there are several stretches where crossing of two vehicles from the opposite direction is almost impossible without.
Villagers have to carry patients on makeshift stretchers to reach the road.
Patients with serious condition often die on the way to Ukhrul, they informed, while appealing to the state government to set up a health centre in the nearby area.
Village chief AS Wungam said that the village has a total population of around 280 people and there are only four government employees, 10 graduates and two master's degree holders.
Public healthcare is the most important basic facility that the village is lacking.
Patients dying on the way to Ukhrul to get medical treatment are common in the area.
Setting up of a Primary Health Centre is one of the most cherished dreams of the local residents, he said, while drawing attention of the government in this regard.
Mention may be made here that a 103 km long road development project is being taken up under PMGSY Phase 2 from Ukhrul to Kachouphung village via Shirui and Khayang villages.
The cost of the project is Rs 50.62 crore which include a component of Rs 6.32 crore for construction of some small'bridges.
The project is divided into five packages, of which the first three are for a stretch of 48 km and the remaining two for 55 km.
The project came to a standstill following restrictions imposed by DISHA Committee, an apex body of villages situated along the road, over land compensation row.
As the timeline of PMGSY Phase 1 and 2 ended on September 30, the government is planning to complete the project by seeking soft loan from the central government.
Once the project is completed, people of Khayang and surrounding villages including those settling along the road will experience a major change in their lives.
However, better road connectivity alone cannot be the solution for the people living in such interior parts of the state unless the government takes up further initiatives to improve basic facilities and infrastructure in key sectors including healthcare.