Being an ardent protagonist of Tipaimukh to come up as first water city and Powerhouse of Manipur. I had visited Tipaimukh in August 2006. Army Authorities Ex Leimakhong made it possible but only via NH53 - Silchar ( South Assam and - Aizawl- Sawkardei (Mizoram) & transport from Parbung Ex 13 DOGRA Regt as bridge at Tipaimukh was nonexistent then, and no other road i.e., Jiribam to Parbung or CCPur to Parbung was negotiable. However I had all the desire to see Thanlon- Singhat as every time there is economic blockade on NH39 & NH 53; NH 150 comes to the fore with a hope to mitigate the miseries of the people in Valley and Hills (though on lesser scale for the Hills). So I ventured in my own car up to Khuga and thereafter by kind courtesy CO 30 Assam Rifles, I could visit Singhat on 18th July, 10 and here is a report.
There I saw a remote and relatively neglected area in Manipur in the ChuraChandpur Dist which of late has caught the attention of many of my ilks due to the current milieu and the changing face of the landscape. Singhat Sub-Div of the CCPur Dist is a region that brings to mind the Kuki-Paite riots of 1997 It may be good to remind, efforts of Shri. Rishang Keishing then CM hosting stately community feast to mark bringing bloody conflict between two tribes of same Zou- Chin group to an end, wherein the once very promising village of Singhat was reduced to a shadow of its former self both economically and demographically and so, a burgeoning township was nipped in the bud. Those unfortunate incidents had set the backdrop for despair and apathy. Once rich with blessings and portent, the area was resigned to the status of a dark and disturbed fringe of the culturally diverse Dist. Thus had been exposed the futility of hoping much for a tribal belt which had simply been a refuge of the marginalized, held hostage by the anti-socials which in the context of our state stands for the insurgents. Such was the manner and pretext for the neglect and rampant disorder which till recently only, seemed justified.
Cut to circa 2010 and the region is brimming with activity and every developmental Endeavour vying for mind space and the calendar, chock-a-block with events with each one swarmed with strength and vigour only to receive into their bosoms yet another facility for the masses. Such was the touting for the goings-on that the shackles of time and space could not bind me any longer to venture a trip to the area to see for myself the truth to this whole account. And thus I ventured into the great beyond, crossing CCPur to reach into an area which I had only travelled to my many memories ago. I must confess that the vibe, right from the outset was a positive one and the sprawling black top, rid of its spots, set the tone for my visit. Army Engineers, dozers, JCB's rolled in 2005 have really done wonders.
The once stately and imminent Khuga Dam which I had visited with Sh. L.Jayanta Kumar Singh, H'ble Minister for Transport & his team a year back was to be my transit point into the Sub-Div from where the transformation riveted me and my eyes turned fanatical for every detail lest I miss the real portent to the development in the area. The quality and the status of the highway in the entire span, despite the rains which till recent times were blamed for the horrible road conditions, was indeed a comfort. The whiff of fresh air that hit me, opening up vistas and the change that was clearly there to see was the normalcy that had come about to everyday life. It was a stark contrast to the dark and
horrific motifs that I had been carrying all along in my mind about the area. The images of a strife-torn demography scrounged upon by the rampant insurgency, that ravaged the local produce, flouncing the locals of their meagre resources, had indeed been replaced by harmony befitting a farming community. The women and children went about conducting chores without the peril of being accosted or their modesty reviled by urchins from insurgent camps which had in the past sprouted all over the population clusters. The stories of a community living in the throes of gun toting freeloaders with no care/concern to human dignity or basic rights were a thing of the past. There was indeed a riot and the shanties and enterprises along the way spoke of stories of success that were substantiated by the smiles on people's faces. The children greeted and waved all along the course as if this were a formal visit by a state dignitary which perhaps Bolero and escort vehicles gave marked impression about me if any. These little soldiers gave away the truth and I must confess they put me at ease. The descriptions of the recent past recounting frequent ambushes and full-scale synchronized attacks on the security forces coming with the correlated damage to civilian life and property now seemed myth.... 407 tatas full of petrol, diesel barrels and Tata Sumos carrying authorised number of passengers like in Mizoram and unlike any commercial gari in the valley of my state - where an old vintage jeep can accommodate average 24 persons - what a contrast at a distance of 100 kms only from Imphal. Query with drivers settled that commodities are being ferried from Mizoram border with Tipaimukh as turnover point.
The gay abandon of the area convinced me that all the violence was from another era and expanse. Going by the commotion and the traffic carrying charcoal and local produce this certainly seemed a land of abundance. Richness of the soil, moderate height of hills coupled with salubrious climate dictates rich bounties for horticultural & florist dons if and when they venture to try.
Along the way one got to see the little sign-posts announcing the efforts undertaken through NREGS,
PMSY, IAY as if to pass scrutiny and come clean. The civil administration and infrastructure had been effective in monitoring the judicious use of funds and most of these projects had been unveiled and inaugurated by a dignitary with an apt stone in place as a reminder. On reaching Singhat the change became cogent. The civil machinery was in place with the SDO holding forth to ensure every department had regular presence including the various forest check-posts. The traffic was regulated and I was apprised of the various caches of contraband that were recovered by the SF and subsequently the culprits taken to task due to the joint effort of the civil administration and the SF, resulting in a complete check on such illegal traffic from the area. Targeting traffic of opium was a part of the plan which had been traced back from the carters to the specific fields in the higher reaches, fecund with standing crop. The destruction being a herculean effort was undertaken by 30 Assam Rifles, which was responsible for making the environment conducive for the civil machinery. Subsequently, as a reprieve for the effected community, all farmers were thereafter provided alternate means in the form of ginger and fruit saplings in abundance in a ceremony organised at Churachandpur to highlight perils of such health hazardous drug crops and mal practices. The unit
had stopped all carriage of wood in the area which brought to halt the rampant deforestation and many have come forward seeking help since these environmentally hazardous practises had seemed the only way for a livelihood in the area until now. Availability of alternate means and the awareness spread through seminars and workshops hosted by the unit have in the past one year brought about a number of coffee plantations, lemon grass farms and large scale cultivation of ginger and banana. Considering rich soil, resorting to herbal plantations will further add to the economy of this area. Area is also suitable for special grade bamboo plantation and grapes crops like in Mizoram.
Another concern that has been targeted in the last year is the failing health care and medical facilities. Through a dynamic and thoughtful plan, the Assam Rifles has tackled the issue successfully. Frequent medical camps organised by the unit brought the glaring situation to the fore and also the condition of the PHCs in the area. The problems of the people were highlighted and the urgency to rake up the issue and resolve the concerns of the remote region. With the insights through medical camps, nursing capsules were organised for candidates from the entire region who in turn were conduits for spreading awareness and also administering timely first aid and local drugs for common ailments. Subsequently the PHCs were activated to pass on the baton to the people concerned. The SMOs at the PHCs have been put to task and there has been some respite for the people although the medicines and wherewithal still remains an obligation with the Assam Rifles. The dilapidated PHC at Behang saw its fortunes changing with the unit help with the medical staff becoming a regular feature. Most of the truant staff has been made accountable and this is an achievement going by the remote and distant lay of the region. The resounding success has made the detachment of the Medicines-sans-frontiers shift out, terminating their weekly sojourns to the area. One wonders with UGs threat reduced why State Medical authorities do not give a push to medicine bags? The other significant development in the area is the planned and systematic conception of civic action schemes called MCA's that I got to see being implemented. The approach has simply been to address the requirement of the community as a whole rather than benefit individuals. The schemes in the offing this year are a thoughtful mix of income generating projects, community services and workshops that will bring the communities together to heal the scars of the past. The fish pond allocated at Baulkot for the year is the highlight of the
pack of schemes and an avenue for the entire village. Women empowerment being another agenda has brought about the release of a VTC at Hiangtam Khunou which would see the light of day in the near future.
Another shift from the past has been the mobile connectivity. The regular upkeep and maintenance of the infrastructure has made connectivity possible in the area. The cables have been dug in through the efforts of the Assam Rifles and hence the BSNL tower is a godsend which kept me connected throughout my trip to the area. Communication "per se" has been key to the pace of life in the area and the speedy work under the assistance and push of the unit will see the work under the BRTF see fruition to give the area connectivity right up to the border at Behang. The timelines are being followed and next in line is the link to Aizawl which bifurcates from Singhat. The much touted bridge at Maukot has seen effort by way of men and material to keep the lifeline open during the blockade. The link was a support in great measure while the state gasped for breath. In these small yet indispensable ways the Assam Rifles ( my proud force) at Singhat has contributed to the state machinery, illustrating effective management of the administration the human and local resources and becoming a beacon for others to emulate. There has been a revival in the mindset of the days of yore wherein the possibilities were endless and not mired in ethnic violence. The resurgence of the township has mooted the feasibility of trade points through the area on lines similar to Moreh. A trade mart at Behang for weekly exchange of commodities has been a novel and thoughtful endeavour that has been growing by leaps and bounds over the past months and creating upstarts with their own small entrepreneurial endeavours. The avenues have been appraised and that is a sign of hope for the endless possibilities.
I have after my visit begun to associate the write ups and montages about various cultural activities, with the tribal community, the Paites rich in colour and literature as they are famous for. The frequent dance, choir and sports activities that I read about bring to mind the children along the way and the diligent hands toiling the fields that I saw during my visit. It gives immense pleasure to read of the people and the efforts of the SF. I am happy that I could see for myself what I have only been reading this past year. I shall, by way of short sojourns to the area, keep my readers posted of the progress and of the activities of the SFs who have been harbingers of change for this beautiful landscape coupled with this Paite-Hmars- Kukis who must look to their neighbour (Mizoram) where every Mizo is engaged to contribute to the development of their State; which was once top in insurgent grip have achieved 139% target under Indira Awas Yojana currently compared to 72% by all the other sister states of NE combined. It is always good to bury hatchets over past dissents. Recent successful & peaceful elections to Autonomous Council is also a pointer if any. Unit did not face problems from any corner in this exercise of national importance.
In fine I am itching to see Tipaimukh Hydel Project with expected 1500 MW's power production to come up soon like my Punjabís Bhakra Nangal Dam. That is my dream. If it happens imagine area of Paite's - Hmar's shine cleared of any drugs. This will be a real peace zone on Manipur Peace Map. When asked about probable cause for this psychological change both at level of civil populace and District Administration with changed involvement of and SFs , Col Atul Kumar the CO was benign to say that 'There is time for everything to change & that time has come. People in general had got exasperated with "Robin Hood' image of antisocials so far called UGs, We feel rural masses must get the benefits of the pro-people policies of the Central Govt. enroute to inclusive growth and sustainable development.' And this is what Lt.Gen NK Singh, AVSM, SM GOC 3 Corps and Maj. Gen DS Hooda VSM GOC 57 Mtn Div have been impressing on their regular visits & their messages to the youth.
