Natural bounty blesses Tamenglong hamlet
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 20 2011: Despite backwardness in every aspects, people in Lamdangmei village of Tamenglong district continue to live peacefully amidst natural bounty.

Located 57 kms from Imphal along Tongjei Maril (Old Cachar Road), Lamdangmei village is inhabited by Chiru community.

There are in all 105 households in the village with a population of 532 people (according to 2001 census).

As in other remote and hill areas of Manipur, Lamdangmei continues to remain underdeveloped in various aspects, whether it be road communication, health care or education.

But the village has been truly blessed by Mother Nature, taking care of every need of the villagers who live in plenitude with no sound or shadow of the turmoil seen in other parts of the State.

In connection with lack of development, chairman of Lamdangmei Village Authority LD Reikhosan said, "We have never known any repairing work along Tongjei Maril since we came to our senses" .

it is said that the narrow road which has no space even for two trucks to pass each other remains sloughy throughout the rainy season and is filled with dust during dry season.

The condition of the IVR which branched out from Jouzangtek of Tongjei Maril to Khoupum on one side and to Lamdangmei on the other is also no better.

"Luckily, the road stretch connecting NH-53 with Tupul, which is located around 13 kms to the north of Lamdangmei, is being developed under PMGSY.

But it is still not fit for plying buses", Reikhosan informed.

Reikhosan further informed that only the building of the lone PHSC in the village has remained for the last 20 years.

One chowkidar is looking after the building.

But there is no staff nor medicine.

The nearest medical centre from the village is the Bishnupur district Hospital or the PHC at Noney.

But as the vehicle hiring charge is high, patient(s) from Lamdangmei is/are normally taken either to RIMS for treatment or take the help of 10 Assam Rifles camp located in the village.

In the domain of education, the community hall of the village has been converted into class room of the Junior High School of the village which has been upgraded to High School.

''As for PDS items, we have not seen them for long'', the village chairman added.

Inspite of all these problems, the village produces abundant food crops including fruits and vegetables which generate income for the people.

Notably, the impact of the turmoil witnessed in other parts of Manipur does not reach Lamdangmei and its surrounding areas.

Not to talk of consuming liquor, even use of tobacco products is prohibited in Lamdangmei.

The village authority is very strict in this regard and the village court has been empowered to take up appropriate action against anyone violating the restriction.

Although the population of the village is said to be 532 people, most of them, particularly the youths went to Imphal or outside Manipur for study.

One Ashing of the village, an ex-serviceman, informed that regardless of the difficulties being faced, Lamdangmei has no far produced one IAS officer, some doctors, Government employees and many educated persons.

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