Chingjaroi CV's tryst with 'Green Mission'

Ricky Angkang *

In the land of the far Northern corner – Chingjaroi Village – a catch phrase of the erstwhile Tangkhul community been that 'one is forbidden to acquire this hard to learn and grasp mother tongue (referring to Chingjaroi mother tongue) for one risked been eaten alive by tiger,' figure of speech attributed to difficult sounding pattern. A social convention that still runs deep in the minds of many..no pun intended here.

Today this strange and far remove from the mainstream Tangkhul dialect is all set to be elevated to the status of first ever 'eco friendly village' and to her ceaseless struggle don a new feather as it embrace the nature call doing all that it could possibly to become the 'cleanest village' in the entire Ukhrul district of Manipur by 2016 – coinciding with International Year of Pulses (IYP) declared post 68th UN General Assembly meeting. Creating possibilities being its foremost weaponry empowering youth to take proactive role by carrying forward the tasks just begun.

The drive came after a series of marathon meetings and open discussion with the villagers, especially youths about the escalating climate induced challenges posed by global warming driving home a message of creating positive impacts on environment. Civic awareness campaigns being one of its foremost navigating tools while reasoning together the eco patterns and the fast dwindling forests covers - the talk of the neighboring village - an abode of wide ranging flora and fauna, since then, where creatures of various kinds were seen crawling and flocking in and around the village vicinity – Alas! All die a quick death. This is Chingjaroi Christian village, located northern fringe of Ukhrul District Manipur, along NH 150 (Jessami-Ukhrul) overlooking atop lie Matha Peak (Chingjui Matha) a foothill belt with a population of 1280, according to latest census 2011.

Today villager boasts of uninterrupted 'Solar lighting' thanks to UDCRMS/IFAD Ukhrul for its bold and sustain interior initiative enabling the villagers' bid to become eco-friendly village on a sound footing. Notably in collaboration with Volunteers for Village Development (VVD) Ukhrul, EVC has also introduces 'smokeless chimney' upping its ante towards greener, safer and sustainable environment. Interestingly more than thousands of trees were already been planted in the interior and its surrounding area besides varieties of tree sampling range in height from 2 to 5/6 feet (about 0.61 to 0.2.1m) had been planted yet again just recently.

Cleanliness drives is another hallmark of this tryst. To stop the endemic of 'open defecation and littering' a system has been put in place to do away with these appalling practices. And this is done under the noose of village authority with strict compliance to environmental protection and conservation of forests with greater emphasis on educating people about its faulty practices. Newly christened Eco Village Committee (EVC) under the banner of Village authority has been carrying out its mandated job profile with elan. Remarkably the committee is orient towards becoming the cleanest village in the district, possibly by 2016 – a laudable effort. Aya A. Shimray, EVC convenor, Khamasu Khanot are the brain person behind this drive.

Mission Statement: As a startups environmentalist having sensed the climatic tempo and the looming danger emanating from traditional practices decode an 'Idea' in the forms of ECO FRIENDLY VILLAGE - a GO GREEN CAMPAIGNS under the banner of LaCoM acronym for Local Arrangement Committee. Taking a cue from the current developments a breakthrough came about visualizing the pressing need of the far degrading village natural habitants that house to host of rear flora and fauna species and the far receding water sources and the rising pollution level due to aggressive onslaught in the name of slash-and-burn cultivation, unmindful cutting down of trees for homestead purposes making villagers prone to diseases of various kinds.

Although similar mission statements have been sounded from time to time, not only in this village but across the peripherals by various organizations and people on-the-know, it remain a mere wish lists lacking in actions: for actions is what matter at the end of the day. And while its counterparts talk tough while rolling out their ambitious roadmap, most remain out-of-touch; a case of yet another heartrending stories loss forever in the battle of being misquoted – an excuse religiously use by politicians when their comments snowballed into controversy. A mission like the one initiated by the foregoing committee – LaCOM, however, stand tall amid fund paucity and other bottlenecks.

For them a good intention alone is not enough to sustain the mission for sooner in the absence of solid foundation backed by clear direction the whole process will soon collapse for wants of vision and action.

Against this backdrop campaigners have introduce a slew of networking and social engineering engagements. In the process a many willingly come forward extending moral, financial and materials support signaling their ever ready support for the genuine cause (reports). "A LONG JOURNEY BEGINS WITH A SINGLE STEP," and this is virtually what Chingjaroi has done in its capacity, a humble beginning though, towards a sustained and eco-friendly settlement.

Indeed the world today is witnessing a sea change in various ways offering plethora of options in the offing allowing sustain maneuvering a workable gateway. And a vibrant and rich biodiversity abound state like Manipur has a lot to offer in terms of tourism and the revenue thereof could be channelize for the good of the people by engaging local workforce uplifting the acute unemployment level faced by the people here. And this is where a tiny state like Manipur need to tap the potential picking up from where it left last sans further ado – sooner the better. And an initiative like the one happening in this village sans an iota of doubt deserves Govt. and NGOs backing given the gap in-between requiring filling ups for still a lot left to be done.

About the village: Chingjaroi village is home to people of Tangkhul community where agriculture is the mainstay of the inhabitants known for its sumptuous taste. In addition this village is also well known in the district for its scenic beauty - Chingjui Matha/peak been one of them and a must visit site if one wish to see the nature abound unexplored paradise of North East India's side of the world – a sure shot treat for weary travelers or explorers who wish to see the yesteryear housing structure that symbolize the days gone by social structure (one will find this blend at Chingjaroi Khullen – customary head/chieftains of the three village), in addition the symbolic Rising Sun emerging from the far East and the lavish Khamor Angkhui – local name for bread festival, famous for ATOSHA KAPAN – a meeting point for rural folks where the hosts and hostess lavishly offer young and old alike with its finest pork. Nightlife absentia village life soon erupts into merry making enjoying the best that the season offers before parting their ways until they meet again.

This joyous occasion herald the onset of spring season in the midst of enchanting sounds of Sampheirok and Koktui (Tangkhul name) echoing from the lash green fields and forests, an occasion to seek God's blessings for abundance. Elsewhere celebrated as 'Luira Phanit' this revered festive is mark by cultural display of various kinds including folk song, tug-of-wall, wrestling besides modern day guitar ensemble, solo, miss beauty contests etc erupting into euphoric. Traditional practices are blend with global elements while maintaining its original themes and meanings. Other places worth seeing include Asezakasha khra (waterfalls) Akarow (tiger den), Japan Kafulokadeu a hill top used by invading Japanese armymen a spot where one could picture perfect oversee Poumai area.

Currently the village total literacy rate is pegged at 83.43 per cent against state 76.96 per cent, according to 2011 census. Many people might have witness bumpy ride on their way to and after reaching Razai Village – the confluence of Chingjaroi and Kharasom village where a giant façade with the word WELCOME TO CHINGJAROI will do the honor of extending its hospitality to the guests welcoming them with potholes and water logging while visiting the village particularly during rainy season when water overflows due to poor drainage or nullahs system causing a hell lot of inconveniences to many making onward journey a herculean tasks – a forbidden village quite excluded from the rests. A freewheeling conversation with travelers and visitors about the village road and other subjects on many occasions has had raise similar concerns joining the chorus raise by villagers time and again to make the village a traveler friendly zone.

Before adding: "We want to visit again 'but', pat came the reply (no guess work required here): after what we had gone through during our journey (referring to peak season when rain plays spoilsport making it darn difficult to pass over the road) one has to but take a second thought." Reactions aside things are progressing but much remain to be seen. Besides the concern village need to know where its development funds are being invested. This pathetic village road called for transparent and accountable management while underscoring quality road which has become all the more important in the absence of other viable alternatives. And to streamline the local products villagers can either avail the cost-effective machinery to preserve the produces or sync with nearest market either sub-division or district HQ Ukhrul instead of allowing pests and other rotten a free run where sense of economy never arise thanks to change in local people perception, at least things are catching up albeit snail pace.

Back to decrepit road..Enough money has been earmarked & pumped for road extensions and revamping the existing roadways but reality speaks otherwise; even the villagers long cherished dream of seeing Black toppings remain a distant dream. These and other equally important lifelines of this interior village remain a deep concern (the writer beliefs many are yet to see let alone heard about this village but all because of the villagers deep concerns and time to time reportage at least her presence is somehow visible). Nonexistent infrastructure need a thorough revamp requiring topmost priority must this onward mission towards ECO FRIENDLY VILLAGE must see the light of day.

A big takeaways from this mission would be restoring the age-old man-and-nature symbiotic relations/affinity. A drive from state capital Imphal would takes about 6-7 hours depending on the mode of conveyance. And those travelers from neighboring state Nagaland could either used NH 150 Jessami road or from Mao Gate towards Phaibung village. The whole village is now painted with green shade especially its rooftop and its all there for you to see – SEEING IS BELIEVING! GO GREEN IS HAPPENING IN REALITY.

Host of trees and plants were been planted besides various venture and beautification projects (mini huts, children park being already splash inside the village main areas) are in the pipelines. Above all this village has a lot to offer in terms of its rich cuisine sandwich alongside indigenous dishes and flavors of various kinds on its menus, and the famous of all being "ATOKALA" made out of sumptuous rice wherein ingredients of various kinds including dry fish, soya beans, bamboo shoots, smoke pork etc make a perfect mixed making it one of the best dishes amongst many other food items – precisely a matter of choice.

Under the given circumstances finding workable arrangement thus arrive for this hilly terrain dwellers to sustain. Maintaining efficient market for people to invest their time, labor and capital is one of them in addition to training people about food preservatives, baking, introducing finer quality crops etc. Intending one's can opt for varieties rather than sowing the same crops year after year where their productions remain more or less the same (time and energy consuming). People can also avail loans and start off their own business venture. In this regard a bit of networking and training goes a long way towards arriving at this newer venture – a promising prospect await to those who dares to penetrate the never-done before venture – turning obstacles into opportunities.

Today, scenic and evergreen forests – an envy of one and all is fast replace by barren land, massive reportage of landslides, flash flood, extreme hot and cold weather blowing from nowhere, ferocious storm uprooting highlands-plain accompanied by harsh winds, diseases prone people at mere exposure, unnatural occurrences etc had displace many people from their own homeland – a refugee in their own land. Some head must roll to prevent such ugly recurrence. Question is what people can do about it: Your abode, your concern. Question is whether human has learnt their folly.

Ecological imbalance is all there for people inhabiting the landscape to testify: a time to critically reflect and evaluate; a time to rewrite and relearn what their actions has done to its immediate home. Grassroots – definitely is the way forward in this time tasted man made battlefield and the so-called Chingjaroi has done her beat be it in small change, nevertheless, it has a long way to go heretofore afresh. NGOs abound state like Manipur can do a lot in this area, any takers!