Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 13:
Kamjong sub-division of Ukhrul district seems to have been caught in a time warp with not even a semblance of governance existing there.
All the Government Department offices including that of the SDO office were found not functioning properly in the sub-division during an inspection tour recently conducted by the Information Centre for Hills Areas, Manipur (ICHAM) along with mediapersons from Imphal.
When the inspection team arrived at Kamjong on January 10, the office of the SDO was found under lock and key and out of the 35 staff employed only the BDO and the chowkidar were there.
In fact the present office of the SDO is attached with the CIC building.
Community Health Centre at Kamjong was also found locked.
Interestingly, when asked about the location of other Government offices, none of the villagers have any idea.
Compounding to the problem of the people living in the remote sub-division is the rampant corruption and misuse of developmental fund sanctioned for the development of road and communication in the area.
During the course of the inspection, it came to light that the fund sanctioned for development of road and bridges under the scheme of Border Area Development Programme (BADP) had been withdrawn without any sign of implementing the works.
It is said that during 2006-07, a sum of Rs 44 lakhs had been sanctioned under BADP for construction of the road which extend from Kamjong to Aishi village, along the border with Myanmar.
Though the fund had been withdrawn, the condition of the road has become even worst with large potholes greeting the commuters all along.
Under the same scheme, a sum of Rs 5 lakhs released for construction of a connection centre of 12 neighbouring villages at Maku village too has been allegedly withdrawn although the work has been stalled after ground levelling stage.
The fund released for construction of 10 bridges in different parts of the sub-division at an estimated project cost of Rs 10 lakhs each had also been allegedly withdrawn without executing the work.
During the course of the inspection trip, a joint meeting of the people of Kamjong was also organised by ICHAM along with participation by representatives of Kamjong Katamnao Long, Kamjong Development Committee.
The inspection team had also covered some other villages like Aishi, Kongkan, etc to take stock of the problems being faced by the people.
Over and above the problem of lack of adequate safe drinking water, the people of Aishi village, which is situated around 20 kms from Kamjong, were found literally in dark with no provision for electricity supply.
According to informed sources, the Government has made arrangement for providing safe drinking water to the people.
The inspection tour also came across GI pipes piling in the village in this regard.
For providing electricity too, electric poles have been erected.
But the power line is yet to be connected.
Disappointed with underdevelopment in the subdivision, ICHAM president N Rajendra said that names of the Govt employees who fail to perform their duties would be flashed in media.
While informing that ICHAM had conducted similar inspection tour at the Chingai block of Ukhrul district and Tamei and Tousem blocks of Tamenglong district earlier, Rajendra said that ICHAM considers backwardness in education among others as the most serious.
At Kamjong, the only existing high school is devoid of adequate furniture after the same had been destroyed during the agitation against alleged imposition of Meetei Mayek in school.
Moreover, no substitute teachers of the three who have been utilised for the SSA have been send so far.
Rajendra desired the Government to pay special attention to the development of education in the hill areas of the State.