Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 15:
The sleepy hamlet of Kamu-Thiamdawi under Saikul Block nestled behind the Ngarian Hills about 30kms from here came alive today with hundreds inhabitants from the village and its surrounding areas thronging the EM Standard High School.
It was a free medical camp opened by social worker Lamminlian Vaiphei under the sponsorship of the Mobile Medical Unit of Tribal Development Department which pulled the huge crowd.
The two doctors- Dr V Haokip and Dr Suresh Laishram had a hard time in trying to please the 1500 or so patients who flocked around them.
Most of them complained of dysentery, muscle pain, fever and loss of energy.
Free medicines worth thousands of rupees were also provided to the patients.
They came from surrounding villages such as Kamuching, Bunghual, Molnom, Saichang, Molkon, Songphei, Saichang, Kaihao Tangkhul etc.
When the doctors found out that most of them suffer from water-borne diseases, the villagers revealed that they consume water from the Thoubal River.
They said they had no option as potable water is unheard of in the village.
Though located just 30 kms from here, reaching the picturesque village could be really tough thanks to the road condition.
The doctors who came by Tata Sumo got stuck in the thick mud and local people were hired to dig out the mud taking more than two hours complaining against the apathy of the Govt authorities.
Lamminlian Vaiphei speaking to The Sangai Express stated that the villagers have been doing without electricity for more than two years.
"We are ready to pay tax if the need arises.
In spite of several representations to the Electricity Department, no official has cared to look into our problem," he revealed.
He also informed that the Nungbrang village which is hardly 1 km receives electricity.
Like every other neglected Government schools, the Junior High School at Kamuching is ill-staffed and lacking in infrastructure.
The only saving grace for the education of the children of the area is the privately run E M Standard English School.
The school has been destroyed during the Naga-Kuki clash and then again ravaged by a heavy storm.
However, with peoples' support and the local area MLA, the school authorities did not give up and today it is running successfully with more than 800 students.
From Kamu Thiamdawi, one can see the Thoubal Barrage.
The villagers stated that the barrage has been lying there for ages without any security.
Athang Vaiphei, the headmaster of the private school pointed out that if the barrage functions, then they could take up double cropping in their fertile lands.
He also mentioned that they are compelled to spend additional money by hiring water pumps to get water from the Thoubal River.