Protection and Preservation Committee, Manipur (PPCM) on Monday visited Makuilongdi village and Maram Khullen of Senapati district, along with a team of journalists, to take stock of the difficulties faced by the villagers.
TFM Report
Protection and Preservation Committee, Manipur (PPCM) on Monday visited Makuilongdi village and Maram Khullen of Senapati district, along with a team of journalists, to take stock of the difficulties faced by the villagers.
Located at around 11 Km from Senapati Bazar, Makuilongdi village does not have a Primary Health Centre. Neither there is proper infrastructure for the government schools in the village, nor the number of teachers is adequate. Of the 5,000 residents of the village, almost all are engaged in agricultural activities.
Makuilongdi Village chairman Disuraibou said that without any basic healthcare infrastructure, the villagers have been facing difficulties. Whenever medical help is required, the villagers have to travel either to Yangkhullen or Senapati. Loss of lives including a pregnant woman had occurred in the village due to the lack of any healthcare institutions. Although the villagers had urged the state government to establish a PHC, it has not come to fruition till date, he lamented.
The village, which is divided into four parts, has an upper primary school under the one Senapati ZEO and another school under the Autonomous District Council (ADC). Due to the lack of proper infrastructure and adequate teachers, some students migrated to other schools and some have left school altogether. But the villagers chipped in and hired teachers in order to maintain the schools for the remaining students, he added.
After remaining unattended for a long time, recently the blacktopping of the road from Oklang to Makuilongdi was initiated under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). But only 12 Km out of 16 Km were blacktopped. The contractor sprayed the remaining four kilometres stretch in black and photographs were taken to show that the blacktopping had been finished, Disuraibou alleged. As quality was not maintained, the cracks are appearing and it may not last long. While 27 culverts were supposed to be constructed, just 11 were constructed. He urged the concerned authorities to look into the matter.
On the other hand, Maram Khullen chief K Namba urged the concerned authorities to repair the main road of the village, having a population of around 6,000. The main problem of the village which is located around 27 Km from Senapati town is drinking water. The villagers have to travel around two kilometres to fetch drinking water as there is no facility for tap water, he added.
Due to inadequate infrastructure of the Maram Khullen Primary Health Sub-centre the villagers had to travel to the nearest hospital, he said, while urging the state government to look into the plight of the villagers.
About the visit, PPCM convenor Maibam Bisheshor said that it was aimed at looking after the living conditions and other public infrastructure in villages of ethnic groups of the state living along national highways. Such visits will be continued along Imphal-Jiri road.
Maibam Bisheshor said that the state government will be apprised of the plight of the villages. In order for peaceful coexistence of the hills and valley brethrens, the plight of the villagers need to be listened to, he added.
PPCM finance convenor Laishram Thoithoi urged the state government to look into the plight of the villagers and take appropriate action against contractors who are not maintaining quality while constructing roads.