Gaikhangam issues 'back to native village' call to headmen
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, November 30 2012: Concerned over increasing trend of village headmen and chiefs shifting along with their families from hills and settling down at Imphal, Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam has observed that because of this trend, all the developmental programmes in the hills have been derailed.

Speaking on the occasion of felicitating him by Longpi Area Chiefs' Association, Nungba, Tamenglong district at Hotel Nirmala here today, Gaikhangam asked 'if all the village heads and leaders come down and settle at Imphal along with their families, who is going to look after their villages and how the developmental programmes are going to be taken up there.

Without development at the village level, a State could never develop to the fullest.

So there is the need for the village heads and leaders in the hills to remain settling in their respective villages for the welfare of their own village and for the overall development of the State at large, Gaikhangam observed.

Stating that there should be no difference between rural and urban, Gaikhangam appealed to all the village headmen and leaders do away with the idea which would affect development of their own villages.

"We should return to our native villages and work for its development", he exhorted.

Villagers should take part in the implementation of development scheme and programmes sponsored by GoI which aim to uplift rural areas from the grass root level, Gaikhangam said, adding that National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) is not an everlasting scheme, so it is utmost necessary that villagers look after it by themselves whether it is being implemented fully instead of letting the Central agencies to verify it.

Acknowledging that Longpi area of Tamenglong district is a remote part, the Deputy Chief Minister informed that the state Government is taking steps to develop its transport and communication, electricity and water.

He also announced that the state Government has taken initiative to include in the Prime Minister's Special Package for development of major roads of the area.

At the felicitation function, the village chiefs of Longpi area honoured Gaikhangam by presenting him gifts.

Haokholal Singson, Member of Autonomous District Council, Tamenglong was among other village leaders present on the occasion.

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