tengbang.in – A platform as helping hand for those who are stranded outside Manipur

K. Modar Maring *

The 21 days nationwide lockdown from the midnight of 24th March 2020 was the major precaution for all of us to prevent ourselves from the pandemic disease, COVID-19.

The lockdown limiting the movement of the entire 1.3 billion populations of India as a preventive measure against the said pandemic disease was ordered after a 14-hour voluntary public curfew on 22nd March followed by enforcement of a series of regulations in the country’s COVID-19 affected regions/states.

Now, the government is trying hard with the best possible ways to prevent the citizens from this pandemic disease by providing ICT applications like videoconferencing technologies, mobile applications like Aarogya Setu, web based applications for registration, giving assistance etc and other essential services and commodities.

Unfortunately, many from Manipur (including self) are stranded outside the state and are facing lot of difficulties both physically and financially.

Luckily, we came to know that our Hon’ble Chief Minister has launched the website www.tengbang.in during the lockdown as a medium to provide assistances to the stranded Manipur brothers and sisters outside the state and it was the hope for many stranded people outside Manipur to reach out their problems and get the assistance from Government of Manipur.

Many stranded citizens started applying through the portal for assistances and the number goes upto more than 2500. The recommended list and pending list was uploaded for a while in the website.

Self was also listed in the 2000+ recommended list. There were around 200+ pending list for they have not submitted the Aadhaar and Bank details.

Later, both the recommended and pending lists were removed from the site and the applicants started receiving a link through SMSs from TENGBANG.IN for providing our geo locations.

I/We did the same by visiting the link provided. Again after a day or 2/3 days, another SMS was received from TENGBANG.IN to provide our flight details.

I/We did it again, visiting the link provided through SMS and uploaded the flight details like e-Ticket, Boarding Pass and date of travel from Manipur.

But, later after a day on checking the request status from the portal, using my Application ID, the status shows, “REJECTED” without citing any reasons/remarks.

At least reasons may be mentioned for which the application is rejected so that I/We can know if I/we had mentioned or did wrong in the application.

Many might be facing these issues as the User Interface (UI) was changed/updated many times during the online application process.

As one of the stranded people I am not worried about the word, “REJECTED” on the application but we are awaiting the token of love from the government as we love our Motherland.

If the software requirements specification (SRS) is done well, hope this problem being faced by the applicants at www.tengbang.in might not have happened and this platform would really connect all Manipuris who are stranded outside Manipur.

I hope and pray that this platform will be a helping hand for those who are stranded outside Manipur.

Sd/
K. Modar Maring
(A stranded Manipuri at Guwahati)
Scientist-B & Addl. DIO
NIC Ukhrul Manipur
Original: Phunal Maring, Imphal East, Manipur