Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 23:
Southern Tangkhul Students� Union (TAKL) and Eastern Tangkhul Students� Union (ZKL) have resolved to work together for the upliftment of the socio-economic status of the south-east Tangkhul area.
A decision to this effect was arrived at during a joint executive council meeting of TAKL and ZKL on September 10, informed TAKL president Rockson Kashungnao and ZKL president SD Phareipam in a joint statement.
The meeting observed that the social health services in the region has been completed neglected with the existing Primary health Centres at Kamjong, Phungyar and Kasom Khulen sub-standard and non-functional.
Even the primary Health Sub-Centres (PHSCs) in the villages are a complete failure, the joint statement said, while informing that the region is prone to malaria, but so far hardly any medical camps has been conducted as a result of which the death cases due to the disease is till very common.
The education system is the area is also a total failure with primary education which is a fundamental rights still being denied to the people, the students� body said, while adding that the road and other means of communication in the region is in a pathetic condition.
Expressing serious concern over the degradation of environment in an alarming rate, the students� body maintained that the fragile eco-system of the hill is being disturbed due to Jhoom cultivation and unrestrained hunting of wild animals.
Yet the State Government has not done anything to check these problems.
As the Government has not provided any alternative means of livelihood, the poor hill people have to continue the environmentally destructive methods of cultivation to sustain their livelihood, the students� body lamented.
The students� bodies also express concern for those villages which are still unknown to the utility of electricity besides non-availability of safe drinking water.
Non-implementation of various welfare schemes and short supply of essential commodities and deprivation of basic necessities to the people will have a negative effect on the future of the people living in the region, they noted.
The students� bodies further expressed over the failure of agriculture particularly in the hills due to late arrival of monsoon this year.
Moreover absence of a Cabinet Minister in the Council of Ministers from the district has also deprive the people to address their plight, they rued.