Chadong students stare at grim career prospect
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 25 2015 : Students at Chadong and other villages affected by Mapithel dam (Thoubal Multipurpose Project) are on the verge of losing their academic year as schools will be submerged within a short period of time.

In this regard, villagers have urged Education Minister M Okendro and authority concerned to make an alternative arrangement to continue classes for the students of affected villages.

A group of reporters, who visited the affected villages yesterday, witnessed very low attendance at Lamlai Khunou Primary School and United Christian Academy, Riha.

Saying that Chadong Junior High School had already been submerged in water, a villager said that students are doing nothing but waiting for reconstruction of a new school building.

A half-submerged church building

United Christian Academy teacher Ningkhan Kasung said that their school has been recording very low attendance ever since sluice gates of Mapithel dam were suddenly closed by the Government.

Unfortunately, villagers have no time to think about their children's education now as they are more concerned about their safety and rehabilitation as the water level is rapidly rising with each passing day, he said.

Negligible number of students turn up for classes at United Christian Academy, which has around 500 students while no student and teacher come to Lamlai Khunou Primary School now, he said.

A villager identified as Zoram Siro said that the school has been closed as teachers are unable to come there on raft.

Regarding medical facilities, one doctor and one nurse who used to provide medical treatment to villagers once in a week, had stopped visiting the village ever since seepage of water began.

As connecting roads are submerged in water and construction of new roads has just begun, villagers are facing lots of inconveniences at the time of medical emergency, he said.

With the Govt turning a blind eye to their woes, villagers have started construc- tion of roads on their own.

He said that villagers are also worried about possible spread of communicable diseases.