Jiribam, July 24 2009: With replacement Manager since the former Manager H Manglemjao retired in February this year, District Industries Centre, Jiribam is in utter shambles.

With only two LDCs manning the whole office, Jiribam DIC is literally on the throes of death.

The two LDCs, Th Brojen and H Rajen have been attending office according to their own whim.

Understaffed to the crippling level, Rajen said that there was no use of attending the office as there was no work.

He said that at least one Supervisor, one Inspector, one Demonstrator and above all a Manager should be present to run the office.

It is amazing that there is not a single Grade IV employee in Jiribam DIC.

It was heartening to note that instructor of the weaving training cum production centre of Jiri DIC H Mema was the lone employee who was striving hard to keep the DIC alive at her best level.

Literally, Mema is donning the multiple roles of Manager, Instructor, Peon and Chowkidar.

Though exacting, Mema is somehow carrying with the multiple tasks.

Talking to this correspondent, Mema lamented at the pitiable condition of the weaving centre pointing at the outdated fly shuttle looms and the non-functional wrapping drum.

Consequent upon the failure of the DIC to pay stipends for the past two years, half of trainees had left the Centre without completing their course, she rued.

"Though the trainees desired to undergo training, financial hardships had pulled them out", she conveyed.

While visiting the Centre, around 6/7 female trainees were noticed working with great effort on a couple of fly shuttle looms which were in creaky condition.

One trainee said that they repaired the looms themselves together with their instructor to make the looms functional to some extent.

Another trainee disclosed that they have to suspend their class due to leakages in the roof.

Pointing out the pathetic condition of the DIC, she expressed her hopelessness.

To any casual observer, the dilapidated condition of the DIC was quite discernable.

Broken windows and shattered walls identify the DIC buildings while its compound and surroundings are adored by tall shrubs.

Irked by the negligence to which the DIC was being subjected to, one social activist of the locality even suggested closure of the centre.

For youngsters and school drop-outs who are yearning for some vocations courses, the Jiribam DIC is making a cruel joke.

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