Public decides to dig development out of Henglep
Source: The Sangai Express
Lamka, February 15, 2013:
In a significant move that is likely to have a direct bearing on thousands of villagers living in remote Henglep sub-division, a public dialogue hosted by Socio-Economic Development Organisation (SEDO) today resolved to shoulder the onerous responsibility of digging a new road from Tuibuong to Henglep via Jongmakot only with funds drawn out of voluntary contributions.
The proposed road, which will cut down the existing travelling distance between Henglep and the district headquarters to about 40 kms from the existing 105kms is aimed at, bulldozing the one factor that incarcerated Henglep to be the least develop sub-division, and is the second project activated by SEDO, a fairly new organization but already has to its credit, a dedicated shopping complex at Tuibuong.
Today's public dialogue attended by leaders of KIC, KSO Ghqs, KSO (CCP), KWU, MDCs, Church leaders, functionaries of COPTAM, KNO, KCAC, chiefs of different villages, public leaders and general public has not only approved the road-map presented by SEDO but also collected over 14 lakh from participating donors to give the proposed road a final take off.
In their four-point-resolution adopted during the dialogue it is said that construction work should be primarily rested on the voluntary contributions from generous donors.
It has also appointed 9 members monitoring and supervision cell to oversee the proposed road taking into shape.
SEDO meanwhile will appeal for donations, in cash and kind while every head of a household located along the said road will contribute their one day's labour or wage, read the resolution.
A statement issued by SEDO following the dialogue said at best the 35 kms stretch road leading to Henglep from Singmun Lamkhai on NH 150, is ridden with pot-holes and is inaccessible throughout the year with only Shaktiman trucks capable of plying on the so called NEC road and took 6-7 hours just to reach Henglep.
It further claimed that it took a staggering 13 hours for people walking on foot.
Under the circumstances the local people experience great hardship, in taking patients to Hospital at Lamka, or in fruitfully exploiting the lands rich agriculture and horticulture products due to lack of road network and administrative infrastructure.
Furthermore children in the area lack basic education, maintained the statement.
"'Given these dire predicaments, exacerbated by ongoing lack of adequate existing connectivity from Singmun Lamkhai to Henglep, which does not meet basic requirements, despite year after year of Government input, SEDO has decided to take on the onerous responsibility to fill the lacuna,' said SEDO.
Upbeat over the backing generated by SEDO on their project, a functionary said on the sidelines of today's dialogue that they will start the work by next month, one month ahead of their initial proposal.