First cashless island longs for development, CM's visit
Source: Chronicle News Service / Sonia Sorensangbam

Imphal, June 09 2021: While Loktak Lake has been the most important tourist attraction of the state, Karang island located in the middle of the lake is in itself another attraction for tourists visiting the enchanting water body.

The island village, which has been declared India's first cashless village after the demonetisation in November 8, 2016, does not have any significant infrastructure to uphold its title.

On the other hand, the villagers are hoping that the chief minister of the state visits the village soon and take up some development works in the island.

Located in the middle of Loktak Lake at a distance of around 50 km from Imphal, the main profession of the people living in the island village is fishing.

Following the demonetisation policy announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 8, 2016 and subsequent campaign for cashless India, Karang was declared the first cashless island of the country in January 2017 under Digital India Mission.

Though the village is an important tourist destination and every foreign tourist sets their feet in the village whenever they visit Loktak Lake, tourism infrastructures as well as facilities to make the village truly cashless are still a distant dream.

Miffed by the apathy, the villagers expressed suspicion if officials are misappropriating funds meant for taking up development projects in the village.

The villagers are also hoping that CM will visit the island village soon and take up initiatives to develop tourism related infrastructure there.

Late Rishang Keishing, who was the chief minister of the state from 1980 to 1988, was the last CM to visit the village.

In the absence of proper infrastructure and lack of livelihood means, the residents of the Covid-free village, are hoping that a visit of the CM would bring some relief to their miseries, the villagers confided to The People's Chronicle during a recent visit.

Seventy-year-old Haobijam Gourahari conveyed that he has not seen any significant developmental changes in Karang since his childhood.

There is no facility for water supply and the PHC does not have adequate manpower, due to which the villagers are facing hardships during times of medical emergency.

Now, the pandemic has forced the villagers to stop their livelihood activities, he said while drawing attention of the government to collect fish from fish farmers like they do for vegetables so that the fish farmers could sustain their livelihood activities during this crisis period.

Karang Island Development Organisation advisor H Geetajen said that there is no bank branch or ATM booth in the village.

In the absence of ATM booth, the title of cashless island has no meaning.

Though some of the shops have swipe machine, using debit cards for everything is not a feasible option for the residents of the village, which is still in a backward state.

Several officers have swindled huge fund in the name of Karang island.

Fund sanctioned under PMGSY Phase-2, 2019-20 is also missing, he said while urging the CM to pay a visit to the village.

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