Tamenglong should not be used as a money earning field

Jimmy Pamei
Tamenglong has been used as a mining field of money by many contractors, businessmen, the officers and the politicians for a long time. These people include those from both the valley and the hill districts of Manipur, though some also hails from outside the state in the garb of companies and NGOs.
The people of Tamenglong have by now come to realize that it is no use at all to construct any development infrastructure in the District. Because the profit of development actually goes to the contractors or the concern officers. And the built infrastructure hardly serves its purpose. It becomes redundant in the next year.
There was a big hype about the construction of road between Tamenglong and Khongsang. It had involved crores of Rupees. It was built. For some months the public of Tamenglong were very happy, proud and have even invited those citizens living outside the state to come to Tamenglong and be their guest. But the big vehicle began to ply over this road. And then comes the rain. And now that seemingly wonderful looking roads are back to the square one, or even worse than the former conditions. A drive towards the Medical Gate of Tamenglong Hqs will show you a heart wrenching sight. The blacktopped areas there bears the worse look, so the muddy sides are opted by the public to pass through. Why should the contractor mine so much of money, in terms of crores or Rupees for a ‘one season use’ road construction?
There have been many projects, programs and even environmental events which involves crores of Rupees which are meant for Tamenglong. But since the benefits are not enjoyed by the people of the targeted district, the beneficiaries of the district are now compelled to think this way: do not plan or set anymore outlay for the development of Tamenglong district except for Education.
It is better to live as underdeveloped district, the worst district in India, than to be a channel of money for the contractors and corrupted officials. The people of Tamenglong have had enough experiences of this fact.
Because the people know that if there is education there will be progress in the near future. Then we will have so many persons in the future if we produce really educated politicians, officials, contractors, and leaders. Now therefore, the Government of Manipur need not give priority for the development of Tamenglong in Road, Railways, Orange, Tourism and even Health. We can suffer that for some years. Just give us good school, good colleges, University, Research facilities, Conferences and Seminars, TED Talks and good internet. Let all these institutions be controlled and managed by the CMO directly from Imphal. I guarantee that the State Government will see amazing social changes in Tamenglong in a decade’s time when all the infrastructure development programs are withheld to Tamenglong except Education.
The writer is based in Tamenglong