Privatisation policy with a difference?
In a free for all situation Govt quarters turn into private homes
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 11, 2010: With Government employees staying away from their place of posting, Government quarters located at Sangshak have been occupied by private individuals.

On the other hand, in the face of prolonged negligence by the State Government, people of Sangshak have been looking up to 23 Assam Rifles posted there as their sole benefactor.

Interacting with media persons who went there to inspect Government offices together with local leaders, Sangshak Khullen Development Committee secretary R Shimray said that it has been more than 10 years since most the Government offices located at Sangshak ceased functioning.

With the State Government paying no attention to the affairs of Sangshak for the last many years, the people have totally forgotten the existence of Manipur Government, Shimray said.

The media team found the Sangshak PWD office and many others locked.

Some months, the PWD office was repaired a little and it appeared that it would start functioning.

But it has fallen to its earlier stupor.

A Govt quarter turned into a private residence at Sangshak

Earlier, the office was run by one Assistant Engineer.

Out of three/four houses built to be quarters for employees working there, one was devastated by a gale this year.

The other quarters are also in dilapidated condition.

A brick layer from Bihar who married a local woman has been occupying the quarters for the last many years.

Apart from the PWD, the Public Health Sub Centre (PHSC) has also been lying defunct.

It is said that the Sangshak PHSC was upgraded to a PHC and shifted to Lambui about 10 Kms away.

But this could not be confirmed.

Likewise, the Anganwadi centre is also lying in comatose, Shimray said.

On seeing the media team, people of both Sangshak Khullen and Khunou ran out not to miss the rare opportunity to highlight their woes which largely resulted from the State Governments prolonged apathy.

One RP Rahiang said that minimum requirements like health care facility, potable water etc still remained a distant dream at Sangshak.

Distribution of PDS items was erratic at the best, he added.

To a considerable extent, 23 Assam Rifles has been taking the roles of civil administration at Sangshak where it was virtually absent.

Commandant CD Singh of the Sangshak post has been providing medicines, electricity, water etc to the villagers of Sangshak as well as the nearby villages.

When there was need for electricity, the AR post provided generator.

At times of illness, the villagers went to the unit hospital of the AR post.

Even minor operations were conducted at the unit hospital free of cost.

As such, the villagers have been looking up to 23 AR as their sole benefactor.

23 AR Commandant CD Singh that the AR unit was only doing what it could do for the local people.