Tamenglong village reels under Govt apathy
Source: The Sangai Express
Tamenglong, June 22 2011:
In addition to shortage of essential food items, deprivation of the PDS items supposed to be provided by the Government has reportedly compounded the miseries of the people living in remote Katiang village under Tousem sub-division of Tamenglong district.
Located at a distance of about 50 kms from Tamenglong district headquarters, Katiang is a small village inhabited by Zeme Naga tribes.
Comprising around 35 households, the total population of the village is said to be just around 212 people.
Talking to The Sangai Express in this connection, chairman of the village Rasuilungbe informed that during the cultivation season last year, NSCN (I-M), NSCN (K) and other armed outfits of the Dimasas not only prevented the villagers from going to their respective fields for cultivation but were also subjected to torture.
These armed UG groups subjected the villagers to such atrocities over the alleged charge of extending or not extending support to their respective groups and passing information about other groups to them.
While the villagers were reeling under strong pressures from the UG groups, troops of Assam Rifles also descended and harassed the villagers over alleged charge of extending co-operation to the UG groups.
Because of all these problems, the villagers could not cultivate anything last year and they are today suffering from shortage of food, the chairman explained.
The chairman said that the present difficulties of the villagers have been further compounded by the onset of monsoon season and the deplorable condition of the existing road communication facilities.
Though the road from the district headquarters to Phoklong village, which is a distance of around 30 kms, is motorable, the condition of the road from Phoklong to Katiang village, which is again around 30 kms, is so bad that no vehicle can pass through.
The villagers therefore could not bring in all the essential items from the district headquarters, the chairman disclosed, adding that they have also not received any PDS items from the side of the Govt. To ensure survival in such a situation, the villagers have to walk till Assam border covering a distance of around 20 kms through jungle to purchase food items, the chairman informed.
With Maku and Jiri river surrounding Katiang village on its western and eastern boundary respectively, the villagers used bamboo floats to cross the rivers in the absence of any bridges.
Even the students have no other alternative but to rely on similar mode of transport for going to their schools, chairman of the village Rasuilungbe said.
He further informed that there is no facilities for health care nor Government schools in Katiang village.
So for educating, students from the village normally go to the district headquarters or NC hills of neighbouring Assam, where they put up in rented rooms to study.
Drawing the attention of the Government towards the problems being faced by the villagers, the village chairman has also fervently appealed to the Deputy Commissioner of Tamenglong, local MLA and other departments concerned of the Government for taking up immediate measures to ensure adequate food supply as well as facilities for health care, communication and education in Katiang village.
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