IMPHAL, Sept 21: The people of Chakpikarong sub-division under Chandel district believes that the sub division is fast becoming insignificant to be called a sub-division with basic infrastructures either remaining obsolete or degrading gradually.
They are at their wits end as where to take their problems as the authorities concern seem indifferent to the problems faced by the people despite repeated appeals and approaches.
HL. Thunga, president of the Chakpikarong sub-division Anal Naga Chief’s Association, stated that the people of the sub-division are facing major problems in terms of health care, banking, communication etc.
“We are not moving forward, but moving backward, back to the primitive age”, he asserted.
According to him, the SBI branch situated at Karong bazaar has been lying obsolete for about two years citing security problems. In this regards the people have approached the concerned authority several times moreover the Chief Minister had also once promised to provide security (around 40) for the early opening of the bank, but no visible action is in sight.
He conveyed that there are around 600 army pensioners, ex-servicemen, government employees, NREGS job card holders, 169 Village Health & Sanitation Committee under NRHM who transact Rs.10,000 yearly for their funds and other registered societies.
“The PHC is not upto the mark”, he said.
Interacting with some of the staffs at the PHC, it has been found out that there is no allopathic medical doctors even though, the PHC which has been recognized as a 24×7 under the NRHM require three allopathic medical doctors to run. It has also been found that only one Ayush doctor is managing alone. Moreover. There has been no Medical Officer for the past many months.
Meanwhile, a staff of the PHC on conditions of anonymity disclosed that due to the non fencing of the centre, cattles often stray into the compound even though the PHC cover a major population of the district.
According to a student leader of the Anal Students Union, the National Rural Health Mission seem not functional in the district hq.
He also added that the District Program Manager (DPM) has been absent from his post for the last 6 months while the District Data Manager (DDM) has been absent for the last one and half years and further added that the District Finance Manager (DFM) is the sole staff at the headquarter, who also handles the NRHM in such a way that every programs is lagging behind. Untimely release of funds hampers the programs at the block level, he further maintained.
Further conveying on the issues of connectivity, HL Thunga, disclosed that the 12 km stretch of Sugnu to Chakpikarong road the main lifeline of the sub-division is in a deplorable condition. He said that it has been six years since the last time it was black-topped.
The condition of the road is so pathetic that in times of emergency like when a woman is in labour pain, driving the vehicle becomes impossible as there are so many potholes and in bad condition, he said. The road connects almost all the other major parts of the block which has over 49,000 population.
At the same time, HT. Lingthul, the village chief of Anal Khonou, said that the Inspection bungalow and farm house within his village remained defunct till date. The president of the Anal student’s union, Ashenval, also stressed the need to upgrade the Chakpikarong high school into secondary level.
Citing the grievances that the people of the sub-division have been facing leaders of Chakpikaong area have urged the government to intervene into the matter to bring development to the area which they expressed is also the key to peace and harmony.