Waba Ching: An isolated village with no children in sight
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Okendro Khundongbam

Imphal, December 06 2015 : It is strange but true.

When one reaches Waba Ching village, he or she will not get to hear the laughter or the cries of children.

There seems to be no children in this isolated village under Tengnoupal Assembly Constituency, around 43 km drive from Imphal.

The village is inhabited by just 27 families belonging to the Maring Tribe.

It has a population of around 130 out of which 80 persons are enrolled in the electoral list.

As one traverses the village, it is palpable that there is no Government or private schools in there.

Perhaps, due to this fact, the parents must have been compelled to send their children to boarding schools and residential institutes in nearby or faraway villagers for education.

This Reporter had been informed that the villagers had many times appealed the State authorities to set up a primary school in the village.

However, their requests have fallen on deaf ears so far.

Moreover, the village is yet to witness the fruits of any developmental schemes.

"Perhaps, our population is too insignificant for the type of politics being pursued in the State.

There are hardly 80 of us listed in the voters list.

Hence, the long neglect", rued a villager.

Waba Ching: An isolated village with no children in sight

Since the Waba Ching village has no Anganwadi Centre or School, the children of the village have been forced to separate from their parents.

These children are sent to neighbouring villages including Heirok, Machi Khul and Thamlai Heinoumakhong for education, informed another villager.

The erstwhile Waba Ching is now divided into two now - Waba Ching Khunou and Waba Ching Khuman.

Khunou has 12 house-holds while Khuman has 15 house-holds.

However, there are no play-ground, primary school, anganwadi centre or community hall in the Waba Ching village.

The villagers are reeling under untold hardships.

They are also still perplexed trying to find out why the Government has totally ignored the village.

Engaging in agriculture is the villagers' primary occupation.

Only 26 villagers hold job cards under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and only four persons hold cards under the old age pension scheme.

Though a road from Thamlai Chingkhong to Waba Ching exists under PMGSY, villagers are worried what will happen to the road in the coming monsoon.

The road is likely to be filled with potholes, mud and slush as it was yet to be black topped.

Pregnant women of the village also face difficulties during deliveries as they have no choice but to visit either Community Health Centre at Heirok or Thoubal District Hospitals.

Since there is no transport service for reaching or going out of the village, auto rickshaws or small passenger vehicles have to be hired from nearby Heirok village during emergency times.

Villagers informed that during the time of delivering babies, the families have to privately engage health workers or nurses from Heirok village spending around Rs 3000 to 4000 per delivery.

On the developmental works undertaken in the village, Waba Ching village Chairman MC Modhun Maring told Hueiyen Lanpao that every human being want to lead a happy life with the change of time.

"It will be a good step if the Government set up a hospital and treat the villagers of Waba Ching, Thamlai, Heinou Makhong and Paringtong," he said.

"Machu Power Station is at least providing regular power supply to the village but the actual living conditions of the villagers will be better if a veterinary hospital, primacy school, community hall are set up in the village", added MC Modhun Maring.