No mobile network : Tamenglong village remains cut off
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 06 2025: Tharon village, located in Tamenglong district, remains disconnected from the rest of the world in this digital age.

Despite the rapid advancement of technology and the rollout of 5G network, Tharon village still lacks access to basic mobile network services.

Situated 27 Km from Tamenglong District Headquarters, Tharon is a Liangmei Village inhabited by about 2300 residents.

Apart from digital divide, Tharon Village which is closely associated with the history of Manipur also lags in infrastructure development including education and healthcare facilities due to inadequate attention from successive Governments.

No mobile network : Tamenglong village remains cut off

Speaking to The Sangai Express in this regard, Athuan Ngamrikaipu, said that Tharon village still doesn't have even a single mobile tower.

Internet is now a vital part of modern life, but poor connectivity at Tharon Village is causing significant inconvenience to them, Athuan continued.

Saying that they catch a weak mobile signal at high slope areas from Tamenglong tower occasionally and the same is the only means to contact people, he added that the village doesn't have any facility to receive news.

He also said that the road connecting Tamenglong and Tharon Village is in deplorable condition.

Although some parts were blacktopped 7-8 years ago, the road has deteriorated due to lack of drainage and maintenance, Athuan said and added that a previous PMGSY project taken up to fix the Champram to Tharon Village road 4-5 years ago was abandoned without completion.

He went on to state that many portions of the road are not motorable during the monsoon season.

Saying that Tharon Village has seen no improvement despite changes in Government, struggling with inadequate infrastructure for years, he added that the village doesn't even have a single pharmacy let alone healthcare center.

The residents have no other option than to travel elsewhere for medical needs, he said.

Even though most of the residents of Tharon Village are poor, the number of beneficiaries of Government healthcare schemes is quite low at the village, making it difficult for the residents to seek medical treatment, he added.

He attributed the lack of mobile network as one of the major reasons why residents are unable to apply for Government schemes.

Athuan continued that the Government also hasn't taken up any initiative to improve education at Tharon village.

Tharon Junior High School doesn't have adequate staff and teachers, he said and added that villagers have been running the school by hiring teachers.

Saying that the village's poor education infrastructure has led to low school attendance, he urged authorities to address these issues and install at least one mobile tower to improve connectivity.