RTE taunts Kamuching: Mapithel Dam Resonates

Mamta Lukram *

The Mapithel Dam or the Thoubal Multipurpose Project conceived during 1980s is an ongoing project; proposed to be inaugurated by March 2018. An earthen dam is installed over the Thoubal River, blocking its natural flow to harness the hydropotential for effective mobilization. Generation of 7.5 Megawatt of electricity, Irrigation of 33,449 hectares of land supply of 10-12 million gallons drinking water per day are three targeted objectives. However, apart from the set goals, the dam has also upstream and downstream affected villages. The dam's unmitigated adversities have been afflicting hardships to the affected community at diverse levels.

In the downstream villages like Tumukhong, Itham, Moirangpurel, Laikhong, Keithelmanbi, Nungbrang, Leirongthel etc, anecdotal accounts twisted its fate in the post-construction of the dam with the loss of livelihood. Downstream villagers survived harvesting Thoubal River's natural resources.

Small scale sand mining constituted the domain economic activity, the sustainability of which was subsisted by flourishing agriculture, fishing, farming etc, supplementing the socio-economic security. Disrupting the natural flow has gulped the survivorship claimed by the riverine ecology.

Before the construction of the dam, annual sand deposits during floods dictate economic viability of the downstream villagers. It was easy to earn around Rs 700/1000 per day, by a couple through sand mining. Supporting education expenses for admitting children in renown private schools accommodating in school boarding was easily affordable. Parents relieved themselves from daily educational responsibilities and invested their time in earning. Consequently, a webbed network of economic equation evolved between the villagers and the educationist.

Hopeful children of Mapithel Dam downstream affected villages attending a government school without proper uniform and books 'Education for Education's Sake'

Education in Nungbrang and other downstream villages

During the last few decades, private educational institutions have gained a wave of popularity. A spontaneous trust in privatisation of school education have rooted with consequent overemphasis paid on it. Parents opted sending their wards to private schools, with the mushrooming of private schools and tutorial homes. This spontaneous trust is a synonym critique of failure government schools' failure in the state.

Another trend of 'private tuition culture' follow up in the state at this trajectory. Question on quality education blurred with this new trend. Parents are expected to support private tuition options. A typology of 'culture-shock' incapacitates the self-confidence of the students in case of failure to access private tuition facilities. Such a circumstantial failure to provide tuition facilities distracts both parents' and students' attention. Thus, privatisation of education with mushrooming private tutorial homes turn up as the severe blow to the poor parents of Mapithel Dam downstream affected villagers.

In the post-construction of the Mapithel Dam, the downstream villagers faced a reversal of fate. The sole background for sustenance supported by the river ecology stopped. Out of loss of livelihood, children in Nungbrang, Leirongthel, Ngamukhong, Laikhong villages, parents could no longer afford educational expenses. Poverty stricken children are forced out of school education, accounting the rate of drop-outs.

Parents wake up early in the morning, move for miles to find a place to work, returning home late evenings. They survive a hand to mouth situation. In the mere struggle to feed hungry stomachs education become an amenity so secondary; a far cry. Family disorganisation promulgated a vicious cycle whereby dejection of kids by parents emerge as a key concern.

Situation of the girls become pathetic. According to villagers, maybe around 10% only of the girls are engaged in weaving or other occupations while the rest, astray. They have no options. Such a situation phenomenally encouraged the culture of early marriage. 16-18 years is described as the average age of marriage.

Nungbrang village entail frustrating fact with education. There is no private school nearby and the susceptibility of the government schools refrained the parents from sending their wards to school. Thangjam Lamjingba and Thangjam Nanao, sons of Thangjam Pakpi grew up with complete deprivation of education. The rate of educational insecurity ascends in recent years. Nungbrang is not the lone sufferer, each downstream affected village has its wrap untold stories about dejected kids.

Students of kamuching Government High School, children of the Mapithel Dam downstream affected families, RTE taunting childhood

RTE in Kamuching Government High School

The Legal Aid Clinic, Nungbrang have been shouldering the sole responsibility of contacting the Child Line, later the Child Welfare Commission, Manipur; in guiding many dejected kids to children homes. By the year 2016-17, the Legal Aid Clinic, Nungbrang started guiding children to 4 different children homes- 2 of which is located at Imphal East District and two at Thoubal District respectively. However, number of drop out kid surplus each passing year in all the surrounding affected villages. Constitutional provision of Right to Education (RTE) started taunting the educationally deprived kids of the Mapithel Dam downstream affected villages.

By 2018, the responsibility of para legal volunteers multiplied with the increasing drop out number. The urgent clarion for an alternative arrangement to redress the issue rung aloud. In quest for a reliable means for imparting education, Kamuching Government High School become the formidable destination. This is the only nearby high school around the villages. Parents mobilise themselves under the initiative of Konthoujam Tendenba Singh, a para legal volunteer of Legal Aid Clinic, Nungbrang. Kamuching Government High School rendered the last hope to the guardians of Mapithel Dam downstream affected villagers.

While the enrolment rate in government high schools in Manipur is decreasing, the reverse occurs in Kamuching. Parents started dreaming of reviving this particular government high school with a mild educational aspiration. More than 131 students from different villages comprising Ngamukhong, Leirongthel, Nungbrang, Laikhong etc have been admitted to the school this year. However, the insufficient facilities of the school poise as an irony to the hopes of the parents. The school building infrastructure, teachers, availability of books, school uniform etc, are far beyond satisfactory.

The current structure of Kamuhing Government Junior High School

A parent from Laikhong narrated how children from their village has to walk for kilometres to reach the school devoid adequate transport facility. It is described as a sigh of relief to see their children attending a school. However, the shabby structure, inadequate teachers and other insufficiencies induced parents to feel morally down, often compelling to lose hope in Kamuching High School.

A half-roof classroom, the current situation of a class

Parents from Ngamukhong and Nungbrang narrated their concern over sending their wards to a school where children are to sit for long hours under a class without roofing. Some of the parents explained how they are always agitated thinking about one common toilet to be accessed by all the students and staff. It is described as more irritating thinking about bigger girl students. Sharing a common classroom by two class at one go is the parent's unresolved discontent.

Three months of the year has already passed, school building construction is not yet completed, there is no adequate teachers and so no specific classes. Constraints to access uniforms and text books in time compelled to instigate a sense of distrust again. Villagers started rationalising whether would it be better to stop sending their children to school any more.

Class II-III students sharing a single classroom divided by a row, relying on a single blackboard

While on the other hand, instilling hopes to the helpless villagers, Tendenba Konthoujam and one of his friend have been shouldering the responsibility to provide transport facility till date. The small vehicles they own has been providing free transport service to the kids admitted to Kamuching Government High School from all surrounding villages like Leirongthel, Nungbrang and Ngamukhong. Nevertheless, Tendenba, being a mere para legal volunteer, and his friend; a layman, resource from personal end are limiting and self-questioned with confusion on how long would they be able to support? They are seeking for any possible alternative measures.

Taunting RTE

A half-completed structure stood at the corner of an open playground, Kamuching Government High School. Arches of doors and windows without panes give the school a hollow look. The incomplete roofing adds the skeletal depiction. Children in casual wear could be seen sitting inside the classes. Two rows in a single class, each row comprising a separate class; sharing a same blackboard at one go is the wonder fact of the school. Some classes like class I-II, IV-V and VI-VII shared combined classes. Appreciating component is the mid-day meal. A good supplementary option for children arriving school walking for kilometres.

Class VII and VIII students sharing a common classroom, common blackboard and a common teacher

Travelling in public transport towards the school, a middle-aged lady in the vehicle Khudongbam Bimola, 50 years, remarked,
..Pendabagibudi pendabana thallabani (concerning discontentment, it's all filled with discontentment). Seeing children unable to attain school education dishearten the villagers. None of my kids go to school, luckily my kids have completed school education before the dam was constructed but I am going to the school just thinking about the possible intergenerational effects in failure to attain basic education by the kids. (…Long sigh…) Asss! eikhoidi loirapotnida (we approaching towards the end)

Future uncertain kids from the Mapithel Dam downstream affected villages nurturing hopes in Kamuching Government High School