Tale of villagers who have never seen tap water in their lifetime
HUEIYEN Reaching Out ; Destination: Rural I/E
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, August 18 2013: Forget about providing safe drinking water to the people of the State by the concerned authorities, there are people in Imphal East district who have never seen tap water in their lifetime.

Though situated at a distance of just 17 kms north east from Imphal city under Khundrakpam A/C, Morok Ingkhol and Tourem villages remain underdeveloped in all aspects even though India celebrated its 66th years of independence just thre days back.

The condition of roads, health care facilities and educational institutions in these two villages is found to be at their worst.

So, it is not surprising when the people of the two villages disclosed that they have never seen tap water in their lifetime.

When Team Hueiyen paid a visit to these two villages to take a firsthand report of the prevailing developmental issues, it was learnt that farming is the main occupation of the people but during off season, they also engaged fire wood collection from the nearby hills.

Interacting with the Hueiyen Reach-Out Team, Mongjam Loken, a villager from Morok Ingkhol informed that there is no government employee in the village.

Even if there were any in the past, they got shifted to Imphal as the condition of roads in the village is pathetic.

The village has always remained so backward, until recent past, there were no vehicle service and only bullock carts used to ply on the roads.

There were also instances where patients from the village died on their way to the hospital while being carried on a bullock cart.

As the villagers had to spend a lot of money in transporting their vegetable products for selling in Imphal market due to poor transport facilities, the business of selling vegetables turned out to be a loss and as such they have now stopped this business altogether, Loken conveyed.

A woman of the village informed that Morok Ingkhol has a rough population of 125 people.

There is no health centre or veterinary centre in the village.

So, the patients needing medical treatment have to go all the way to Imphal to get themselves treatment at RIMS, JNIMS or any other private hospitals spending huge amount of money.

But for those who cannot afford, they have no choice but to wait for their dying hours.

There are no drinking water facilities provided by the government to this village.

The villagers depend on hand pumps and water from ponds for drinking purposes.

They have not seen tap water provided by the government for safe drinking water, in their lifetime, she added.

As far as educational facilities in the village are concerned, there is one Primary School in the village where there are 25 students and 4 teachers.

It was learnt that the teachers hardly come to the school on regular basis.

Although books and bags being provided to the students under SSA, they are deprived of school uniforms which should also be provided under SSA free of cost.

The condition of Tourem village is also all the same with the villagers deprived of safe drinking water.

They depend on water from hand pumps or ponds for even drinking.

There are also no health centres and veterinary centres in the village.

Going to Imphal for treatment spending extra money is also the only option left for those who could afford.

The Secretary of the Taurem Village Committee while interacting with Team Hueiyen disclosed that the people of the village do not receive PDS items on regular basis.

The condition of the roads in the village is also no better than mule tracks.

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