Border villages left to their own fate
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 14 2021:
Chairman of Nongkham Satang Village Authority TK Kothil has claimed that villages at the Indo-Myanmar border are bereft of Government schemes and welfare programmes.
Speaking to media persons who went to inspect the controversial Border Pillars no 82 and 83 along with the members of United Committee Manipur (UCM), TK Kothil said that Nongkham Satang was established in 1952 at the bordering of Manipur and Myanmar.
He also said that the village has a population of about 200 belonging to 50 clans.
Claiming that the Centre and the State Government have not taken up any developmental programmes in the village bordering Myanmar, Kothil asked if the Governments are not aware of their existence.
There are many elders who are eligible for old age pension and health cards, but they are not entitled to any welfare schemes, he claimed.
Further claiming that the pitiable road conditions in the village add to their woes at the time of emergency, the village chairman further stated not a single community hall and a guest house have been constructed at their village.
Though over Rs 35 lakh has been sanctioned to provide clean water to every household under Jal Jivan Mission in the village, the work that commenced was for the construction of only two water tanks which were abandoned incomplete, he claimed.
UCM president Joychandra Konthoujam stated that there are lapses in implementing development programmes in the remote villages of Manipur.
Further claiming that many eligible beneficiaries in remote villages are not covered by any welfare programmes of the Government, Joychandra urged the Government to furnish a white paper on the fund allocated for hill and valley districts in Manipur.
Joychandra then urged the Government to work out a proper system to ensure people in remote villages are covered by the welfare programmes of the Government.