Fermented bamboo shoots: Source of livelihood for Kwatha villagers
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 15 2019: With majority of the population belonging to the underprivileged section, the people of Kwatha village earn their source of livelihood through agriculture/farming and food processing.

When The Sangai Express visited Kwatha which is located at the outskirts of the State bordering Myanmar, it was found that the villagers manufacture fermented bamboo shoot and sell them to earn their livelihood.

They either buy Usoi (a bamboo shoot which is usually thicker and triangle in shape) from Myanmar or gather it from the forests to make the fermented bamboo shoot.

Kwatha village, which is resided by Meitei community, is situated under Moreh sub division of Tengnoupal district and about 107 km far from Imphal-Moreh road (NH-150) .

Fermented bamboo shoots: Source of livelihood for Kwatha villagers

On its journey, it was also found that many dilapidated roads were laid with stones near Kwatha Lamkhai under PMGSY.

Speaking to The Sangai Express, one of the villagers (who is also Kwatha club's secretary) Ksh Iboyaima conveyed that the elders of the village had told them about how the village was formed and added that some Meitei people, during the Seven Years Devastation, had fled the valley and settled at the place which is called Kwatha.

Altogether, there are 75 clans in the village at present with a population of 382 and 160 eligible voters, said Iboyaima.

He continued that the villagers gather Usoi from the forest around the village and even buy from the neighbouring country to make fermented bamboo shoots.

New shoots are formed during June/July, he said and added that the villagers then will gather the bamboo shoots during August to September.

Following this, the villagers will start to cut the bamboo shoots in which they are paid Rs 200 per individual, Iboyaima continued.

There are about 20 financially stable families in the village, who are engaged in the fermenting/processing of the bamboo shoots.

"December to January is the probable time to take out the fermented bamboo shoots for sale", he mentioned.

People from Kakching district come to Kwatha to buy the bamboo shoots and Kwatha villagers also sell the bamboo shoots at Kakching only, Iboyaima added.

The fermented bamboo shoots are sold at the rate of Rs 50 per kg, he informed ( but earlier it was sold at Rs 10-15 per kg) .

Iboyaima said that most of the villagers are poor with only about seven Government employees while adding that the rest of the villagers earn their soure of livelihood through agriculture or farming or as labourers engaged in cutting bamboo shoots for fermentation.

There is one high school in the village, which was upgraded from junior high school in 2017 .

However, only five teachers (two from the village) are available in the school who are teaching a total of 30 students.

In terms of medical facilities, there is only a single PHSC with two nurses and no pharmacy, he said and added that in times of emergency, patients are either taken to Moreh, Kakching or Imphal for treatment.

Meanwhile, the villagers receive PDS items under AAY scheme on time till date, he claimed.

The Go to village mission/programme has never been organised in Kwatha village, he alleged while adding that the villagers address their grievances to Tengnoupal DC, MLA and ADC.

Iboyaima lamented that the authorities concerned respond to only one to two percent of the total grievances addressed to the Government departments while adding that the villagers fail to properly receive all the different Government welfare initiatives till date.

The State Government had neglected to construct a proper road for Kwatha village for many years but the authority concerned has taken up necessary steps to lay stone on roads which are in dilapidated condition.

He expressed hope that if this project completes then the villagers will experience their first ever black topped road.

On the other hand, Kwatha Schedule Caste Welfare Youth Club has been organising Kwatha festival while it has started to celebrate Soibum festival as well.

Meanwhile, Kwatha Khunou, which is located 5 km away from Kwatha village, has over 20 clans and a total population of 70 people.

Kwatha Khunou and Kwatha villagers coexist and cooperate in times of need too.

When the border pillar issue occurred, the people of Kwatha joined the fight for the State and its people, he said while appealing the State Government to the needful to protect the land and its border.