What an MLA couldn't do in five years,
ICHAM did in 15 days: Villager
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, October 27 2008: A VILLAGER of Chingmai Khunou (Jubumai) in Senapati District has expressed astonishment over the extent of achievement made by the Information Centre for Hill Areas, Manipur (ICHAM) in regard to construction of a market shed at the village.

He said, "Despite promises, an MLA couldn't construct a simple market shed in five years' time.

It is overwhelmingly astonishing that the ICHAM could construct the market shed in only 15 days" .

He said, "Once the election was over, the MLA has not shown himself again.

It makes us feel that we are not in Manipur.

But now the work of ICHAM has brought us closer to Manipur".

(L) Paomei girls of Chingmai Khunou singing welcome songs; (R) A young village woman welcomes ICHAM president Rajendro

The villager was ventilating his sentiments on the occasion of inauguration of a market shed constructed at the Chingmai Khunou (Jubumai), about 40 kms north east of Tadubi in the adjoining line of Senapati and Ukhrul Districts in the Nagaland-Manipur border.

The ICHAM constructed the market shed in collaboration with Paomei Students Union and Paomei Naga Union under the sponsorship of Manipur Development Society.

The market shed was inaugurated on Saturday last at a function on which the president of ICHAM, N Rajendro (Boy) was the chief guest, president of Paomei Naga Union (Paomei Mousui Me) Dr PT Hitson was the president and president of Paomei Students Union Danii Paomei was the guest of honour.

Speaking on the occasion N Rajendro regreted that nobody knew anything about the huge amount of funds sanction by the Government of Manipur for development of the hill areas during the last 30-40 years.

But in the neighbouring state Nagaland, much advancement has been made in communication, roads, power, drinking water and heald care.

But in Manipur, the people of villages in the hills have been made to feel the difference of ethnicity.

He said, "The road from Tadubi to Tungjoi was repaired under the PWD in March this year.

But now the road is almost unusable.

So far no one has come to see the condition of the road.

Instead of talking theories at the table, if field visit is taken up to inspect the condition, people would certainly praise it" .

Rajendro further said that sanctioning of Rs 4 crores for repairing the road from Tadubi to Laii village was announced in the recent Assembly session.

Instead of handing the work to MLA, if it is given to a contractor who would work for the interest of the people and draw up the bill after asking the people of their satisfaction or dissatisfaction of the work, no amount of money would be wasted, he said.

He said, if the government makes the funds released for development programmes of the five hill districts public, and set up a specific place for lodging complaints, then a few people who have been siphoning off the funds would not able to do so.

Rajendro gave assurance to the gathering that ICHAM would consult with the people of the hills on their many problems and issues and bring them up to the government.

Danii, who was the guest of honour, praised the president of ICHAM, Rajendro saying that he was a man of works.

He said, even though claims are not made that hill and valley are one, if development works are taken up at equal level, then the hills and valley would naturally become united.

When the organisers of the function invited any one of the gathering to speak, in all villager stood up and thanked ICHAM saying that what an MLA couldn't do in five years, ICHAM did it in just 15 days.

President of Thangal Union, John Thangal who also spoke at the function observed that whatever works the ICHAM takes up, all the people of hills needed to extend moral support.

Dr Hitson said, now the time is over for the people to think of hill and valley differently.

Just with the development of Imphal, it can't be said that Manipur is developed.

One village in the remote corner of Manipur which remains under developed means that Manipur on the whole is under developed.

The president of ICHAM opened the veil of the market shed.

President of Paomei Naga Union Dr Hitson cut the ribbon.

Two village girls played the typical Paomei guitar 'Tatu' and sang welcome song.

ICHAM donated a sewing machine to the women society.