Multi-crore NEC project left forlorn in Ukhrul
Source: Chronicle News Service / R Lester Makang

Ukhrul, September 02 2021: From a distance, one could see the two multi-storey buildings lying idle with bushes almost overgrowing the brick wall around them and the iron gate on the front, betraying a sign of abandonment.

Located adjacent to a school building at Mayorumtang, Greenland in Ukhrul town, the twin buildings looked sombre and forlorn as though they have been left to gather dust.

On approaching them, it was established that the buildings are none other than the under-construction structures of the Scheduled Tribe (ST) Boys and Girls Hostel which is being implemented as one of the ambitious North Eastern Council (NEC) schemes under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) Government of India.

It is learnt that the construction works at the site have been halted for quite a long time now.

To the unsuspecting public, the continued delay in completing the structures which are already nearing completion appears due to the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic situation.

However, close investigations have brought to light that there is high possibility of fund embezzlement, coupled with the state government's alleged disinterest, that have stood in the way of timely completion of the multi -crore project, even after seven years of its commencement.

Highly-placed sources said that construction of the ST Boys & Girls Hostel in Ukhrul commenced in 2014 with the engineering know-hows and the fund routed through the Tribal Development & Hills Department of the state government as the same involved welfare of tribal communities.

The Ministry of DoNER Dashboard of NEC (updated during the month of July 2021) revealed that the approved cost of the hostel is Rs 5.28 crore, out of which Rs 4.75 crore has been sanctioned, the source disclosed.

In the recent past the Tribal Development & Hills Department was frequently in the limelight over controversy surrounding its unscrupulous nature of financial transaction (fund embezzlement), sources said, and exuded hope of improvement in the sad scenario.

Tribal Development & Hills Department was established to look after the socio-economic promotion of Scheduled Tribe population of the state through implementation of various developmental programmes in addition to the provisions enshrined under the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 and the SC & ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.The sentiment of the general public is why the state government is not keen in completing the hostel in a timely manner which is imperative for the benefits of student community.

The local populace has grown agitated over the inordinate delay in the project.

The otherwise praiseworthy approach of the state government towards tribal welfares has just become a mere postulation with no empirical application, in spite of launching various tribal friendly missions namely, 'Go to Hills', 'Go to Village' etc, sources said.

The ST'Boys and Girls Hostel is being constructed at one of the educational epicentre of Ukhrul at Mayorumtang (Greenland) for the welfare of student community.

Interestingly, this hostel is also going to be the only government provided hostel at Ukhrul town.

Even then, despite the delayed completion due to absence of government enthusiasm in tasking the stake holders, the local populace is still pinning hope on a new government hostel.

The NEC took up the ambitious project following the much-lauded Manipur Government's policy of improving welfare measures for Scheduled Tribe students by way of constructing Scheduled Tribe students hostels in all the hill districts of Manipur.

The first ST Hostel facility under NEC was constructed in Churachandpur district followed by Senapati district.

Then the project was taken up in Ukhrul followed by Tamenglong (at Noney, now under Noney district).

Churachandpur and Senapati districts successfully completed the project, the fate of the same project Ukhrul and Noney districts continued to hang in the balance.

The NEC plays a pivotal role in the development of North Eastern states.

In Manipur alone, 182 projects have been taken up since 2005.According to the MDoNER Dashboard of NEC, there are over 100 incomplete projects in Manipur.

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