30 years later, several villages at extreme border of Manipur yet to get a glimpse of electricity
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 05 2019: Numerous villages under Kamjong district of Kasom Khullen Sub-Division including Nambashi village, which are located at the extreme border of Manipur just adjacent to Myanmar, have been facing lack of many basic amenities including electricity.

Meanwhile, many school going children and students are trying to keep up with their lessons with the help of small solar lamps during the nights.

The villagers of Namshi told The Sangai Express that they have not received any power or electricity for more than 30 years although electric posts and wires are erected in and around the village area.

In what can be termed as almost a silver lining for the villagers of Nambashi, the people got to experience the feeling of receiving electricity at one time, but that too lasted only for a few hours.

The electricity which came to the village only for a short period of time on December 23, 2018, was never seen again.

Presently, there are 100 houses in Nambashi Khullen, 40 in Nambashi Khunou and 50 in Nambashi valley while the total population of the three villages is only 3000.Nambashi is 110 kms away from Imphal city.

One MC John Tangkhul of Nambashi village, while speaking to The Sangai Express, said that the people of Nambashi valley, Nambashi Khullen and Nambashi Khunou under Kamjong district have rarely seen or experienced electricity since the time of their forefathers.

He said that the State Government erected electric posts at these said areas 30 years ago, unfortunately, the people have not got any chance to get electricity till date.

Students in these villages go to school early in the morning and try to read as much as possible during evening when the natural light is still present, he added.

Earlier, students did not even have the chance to read at night but now with the changing times, they are able to gather together and read under the light of solar lamps.

John further told The Sangai Express that the locals have to spend a lot to buy the solar lamps (sometimes very frequently if the quality of the lamp is defective).

He maintained that the villages dont have the opportunity of getting any PDS items including Kerosene and asked what they can do when a candle or a packet of candles can last for just a day.

"Our forefathers have been living in the dark at night without enough source of light and hence their intellectual abilities were low", John asserted.

He said that after the formation of Kamjong as a district, a KV 33 power sub station was constructed and inaugurated at Kasom Khullen, which is supposed to provide power supply to Nambashi villages.

Apart from Nambashi villages, other neighbouring villages bordering Myanmar namely Bungdung Kashung, Punom, Kachumram, Kangkum, Makan, K Ashang Khullen, Bungpun, Wanglee and Namlee are also facing the same scenario.

Meanwhile, the villages located at the border of Myanmar, adjacent to villages of Kamjong district, including Phaiyang, Yangnom, Tap (Meotip), Mangsa etc are enjoying electricity since way back, John narrated.

He said that the people on this side of the State are envious of the lights enjoyed by the bordering villages of Myanmar.

Expressing hope that the people will be able to live better and enjoy life better if the State Government provides electricity to these villages, John said that all these people are rather unfortunate as they cannot watch TV to keep up with the current affairs of Manipur or simply enjoy the experience of getting power supply at their own houses.

On the other hand, speaking to The Sangai Express about the condition of the roads leading to Nambashi village, one Regina Tangkhul said that construction of road from Yairipok began recently but the Kasom Khullen road stretch is still in a pathetic condition.

She went on to state that the route leading from Kasom Khullen till Nabashi village is even worse, especially during monsoon season.

While, on the bright side, a section of road in Kasom Khullen was repaired By SBI, she claimed adding that the State Government had built a Nambashi High School which has around 100 students, from class I to X .

The students, after passing class X, are on their own as some go to the city while few go outside the State to continue their study, she noted adding that there is no private school set up in the area till now.

She told The Sangai Express that the rate for travelling to Imphal from Nambashi village on a passenger vehicle is Rs 250 per head, so the locals mostly prefer to go to Moreh to conduct business or buy essential things, instead of going to the city and that too on pathetic road condition, by passing through the villages located in the extreme border.

Regarding eatables, especially vegetables, the locals are fortunate to have fertile soil which provides tasty and healthy vegetables, she said.

Some villagers at these extreme border area avail welfare schemes of the Government but some have not even heard of the schemes, Regina said, adding that the Govt Department officials have been addressed regarding the grievances of the villagers but no positive steps have been taken up till date.

She said that depending on.

agriculture, the villagers are earning a meagre livelihood and since the working days under MGNREGS have been reduced as well, the people are facing immense difficulties in earning money and managing their families.

The lack of electricity, poor road conditions, lack of opportunities to earn and not receiving welfare schemes are only a few major issues faced by these far flung villages and the time has come for the State Government to deliver the basic amenities and address the grievances of its people.

Comment