Ingenious method used to receive mobile service in CCpur sub-divisions
Reporter's CCpur diary : Tales of suffering, humanness
Source: The Sangai Express / Laishram Shamungou

Thanlon, November 16 2008: Living upto its image as one the largest armies in the world, the 12 Madras Regiment stationed at Thanlon and Tipaimukh sub-divisions in Churachandpur district has succeeded in tapping mobile connection and telephone line connection as well in these two remote places, where facilities for mobile phones and land line connections are absent.

Using a device manufactured in China, the troops in Thanlon and Parbung under Tipaimukh hit upon the idea of installing five SIM cards at one post located at Singnat sub-division, where mobile service is available, and connected them to a receiver at Thanlon located about 50 kms away by using a device known as Super Long Range Cordless Telephone.

The ingenious method means that the troops can contact their family members and the facilities are also being extended to the local people.

This story came to light during a recent trip to the interiors of Churachandpur along with the Army PRO Colonel Rajesh Mishra.

The ingenious method was put to use from January this year enabling the troops to keep regular contact with their family members.

Moreover a separate line is also opened for the local population.

On the other hand, to extend mobile service to these interior areas, process of laying cable lines along NH-150 by private service providers Vodafone and Reliance has started.

In some cases, WLL sets procured from neighbouring Mizoram are being used for commercial purposes and the rate of one call has been fixed at Rs 10 .

Electricity : There is no source of energy save for the power procured from the Solar Household Lighting System and Solar street lamps provided by MANIREDA and the Army in these remote areas.

As such life in these two sub-divisions begins and ends with day break and sun set.

Candle is the most sought after necessity there.

However the 12 Madras Regiment under 57 Mountain Division has provided a degree of reprieve to the people at Thanlon as it has managed to provide three units of power from its generator to 161 households till 9 pm.

Bamboo flowering : With the villagers facing the prospect of starvation due to the rodent menace following bamboo flowering, parents and elders are no longer able to meet the expenses of sending their children to school.

Hence the drop out rate of students has seen a marked increase.

To supplement their income, the villagers have started felling trees on a bigger scale as well in hunting wild life.

A villager in Thanlon sub-division displays the last remains of the rice procured from the Govt

Speaking to The Sangai Express a villager of Vaiphei Mol village said that from the two tins of paddy seeds he sowed this year, he could manage to harvest only seven tins.

In other years, from two tins of paddy, the return was not less than 100 tins, he said and added that the poor yield was due to the havoc caused by the surging rodent population.

The harvested rice is yet to be eaten, but at the moment he has only two Kgs of rice procured from the Government agency.

Once this stock runs out, the villager said, he would go hunting and if there is any catch the same would be sold at Thanlon to replenish the food larder from the rice sold by the Government.

The rice is bought at Rs 20 per Kg, he informed.

Interacting with this reporter at Bukpi village at Thanlon sub-division, a school teacher, Vung Ngalmiang said that following the rodent menace, not many students are able to attend school.

Pitching in with aid, the 12 Madras Regiment has started footing the hostel fees and mess fees amounting to Rs 350 per month for 40 students of the two sub-divisions, disclosed Principal of St Xavier's School, Thanlon, Father Samy.

The tuition fee, which is Rs 150 per month has been waived by the school authority.

Villagers of the two sub-divisions while interacting with reporters at Thanlon said that they have to cope with extremely bad roads, non-existent power supply, poor medical facilities and lack of food grain.

NREGS : Amid the gloom and sorry state of affairs, the NREGS has come as sort of a blessing for the villagers for with the prospect of getting paid for their labour shining bright, shop keepers do not shy away from selling them food stuff on credit, said the villagers.

On the other hand, the Army has started constructing some water tanks for the villagers.