Imphal, April 24 2009: THOWAI KUKI village of Ukhrul district is yet to reap beneficiary schemes like national flagship programme, NREGS of Government due to refusal of giving settlement order by the Deputy Commissioner of Ukhrul district, according to Chief of the village Seikholen Haokip.

Highlighting the grievances of the village during the first anniversary observation of Thowai Kuki Youth Organisation today at the village's public ground, Seikholen Haokip said that until the unfortunate communal clash of the Kuki and the Naga reached its peak in 1993, the village had been inhabited by the colourful Thadou-Kuki tribe since the time of the British rule.

Ten years later in March 2003, the village was re-inhabited, Sekholen recounted and added that though the villagers have settled there for around seven years now, the villagers are yet to get beneficiary schemes of the State and Central governments due to refusal to sanction settlement order by the district DC at the behest of the NSCN (IM) and some vested individuals.

Having a population of around 300 villagers, this village of around 45 households has been neglected by the district administration.

As a result, the villagers are yet to receive their share of the PDA items.

No electric transformer and wires have been seen in the village and the road leading to the village is not motorable.

Drawing the attention of the government, Seikholen Haokip urged for the immediate issuance of Settlement Order of the village so as to ensure the village gets government schemes like other citizens do.

Speaking as the chief guest of the celebration function after unfurling the TKYO flag, former Speaker of Tangkhul Nao Long, S Yangkahao said that no one has the authority and rights to claim ownership of the village which has been inhabited since time immemorial while saying that the refusal to grant Settlement order by the DC is not desirable.

The celebration of the anniversary rising day of the TKYO was attended among others by President of KSO (Ukhrul) Thangkholen Baite, TB Mangsei Haokip.

The grand celebration function has also drawn crowds from Kuki villages in Ukhrul district like Lamlaijing, Sanggai, Zalenbung, Mongbung etc.

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