Hueiyen Reaching Out- Destination: Rural I/E:: Caught in a time warp, Sarouthel longs for Govt's attention
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, August 17 2013 : With the State Government totally neglecting Sarouthel village in almost all aspects, the people of the village have been suffering every day, starting right from lack of drinking water to basic amenities like health care and educational facilities.

Sarouthel village is located under Khundrakpam A/C of Imphal East district around 15 kms north east of Imphal.

The village has a population of about 250 people.

When Team Hueiyen paid a visit to this village to take a firsthand report of the prevailing conditions, the team was bombarded with numerous grievances of the villagers, all seeking for Government attention.

There is one Government primary school in the village, Sarouthel Primary School with just 20 students.

Sarouthel longs for Govt's attention

The students are taught by two teachers from Khundrakpam and Mongsangei.

Surprisingly, the school which has classes from I to VI, has got just three benches.

The students studying in different classes are being taught in one class in the three benches, with their backs turned against each other.

Speaking to Hueiyen Lanpao in this connection, Sinam Sobhachandra, Secretary of School Development Committee, stated that the students of this school have not been received school bags and uniforms which are supposed to be given free of cost under SSA.

However, books have been provided to the students.

He further informed that the students of the Government primary school are also not properly given mid-day meals on a regular basis.

At one point of time, the school had become totally defunct as no parents were willing to send their children.

However, the villagers made it a point to revive the school and started sending their children, who had been admitted to other private schools.

Regarding availability of drinking water in the village, the villagers pointed out that they have never seen tap water in their life.

They depend entirely on ponds and underground water for drinking purpose.

There are two hand pumps in the village of which one has been out of order for quite some time.

The villagers also lamented over the lack of health care facilities in the village.

At present, there is not a single health centre in the village.

The villagers have to go all the way to Sagolmang Community Health Centre in case they need medical care, or proceed to Imphal.

So, patients dying from lack of medical attention in case of emergencies are something that the villagers have used to live with.

Apart from lack of health care facilities for human beings, the village also do not have a single veterinary centre where animals could be treated despite the fact that most of them depend on cattles rearing in their home to supplement the income of the family.

The villagers have to take their sick animals all the way to Imphal to get them treated or engaged veterinary doctors from other places.

Recently, when the concerned authority of the State Government issued an appeal to the public to get their dogs vaccinated against rabies, the villagers of Sarouthel have to contribute money to call veterinary doctors from outside for conducting vaccination programme against rabies.

Even though most of the villagers in Sarouthel are people living below poverty line, they hardly get any PDS items.

None of the villagers are employed in any of the State Government departments.

They are all engaged in farming and during off season, they go to the nearby hills for collecting fire woods.

The villagers informed that though they are provided a mere 5 kg of rice per house under PDS while 2 litres of Kerosene and 2/3 kg of sugar to BPL card holders.

These PDS items are also provided not on regular basis.