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| Picture Credit- Mr Armstrong Pame, IAS |
The image above is that of a sick patient being taken to the hospital. Carrying the sick in bamboo slings, children walking more than ten kilometers everyday just to reach their schools, elderly walking with baskets weighing more than 50 kgs on mountain slopes for hours together in leech infested forests...This is everyday reality in the North East. If you thought that India Shines, the living conditions of the people in the neglected states- The Seven Sisters of North East, can put us to global shame.
Enter a new IAS officer as Sub Divisional Magistrate, Tamenglong, Manipur. This young person wants to do something fruitful to his poor and downtrodden brethren. Introducing the first IAS Officer from Zeme- Naga tribe of Manipur- Mr. Armstrong Pame! Mr Pame is now hell bent on his dream project- the Tamenglong Haflong Road- the lifeline road of Manipur, entirely constructed by the people, of the people and for the people. This public- built road will form a tri- junction with Nagaland and Assam over the Jiri river. The total road length is 100 kms of which 70 kms have been completed so far. The work has been entirely done by public volunteers of the area who just want to see a road.
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| Local volunteers clearing forests for the road with their daos, pic courtesy- govinspire.com |
Work was stopped midway and now it has resumed. The stretch of 20 kms is yet to be completed. The total cost per meter has been calculated as Rs. 62. If interested in donating to this noble cause, you may kindly visit the link here and click the donate here button. For any queries kindly contact 09953029135.If you can donate Rs. 31,000, a 500 meter stretch of the road could be named after you! This 90 year old man has donated his pension of Rs. 200 per month for 5 months, so that his children and grand children can use a road!
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| Picture Credit- Mr Armstrong Pame, IAS |
You can check out this website too, an interesting initiative by my dear friend Mr. Nagarajan, IAS, District Collector, Banaskantha, Gujarat. There are many young people in the administrative services who love to reach out to the people and help them lead better lives. It is our duty as sincere citizens to support their drive. Interestingly, the pioneer of the Tamenglong Haflong road Mr. Armstrong Pame has been nominated as CNN- IBN Indian of the Year, 2012! Kindly visit this link to know more about him. You can vote for him here!
Christmas is the season of giving and kindness. Let us make this our Christmas gift to the people by donating to this noble cause. Let us make our Christmas memorable.This is the best Christmas gift these simple and hardworking people can ever get!
This is a different post from you that has a social content.A laudable work inspired by Mr,Tamneglong and carried out by the local people.There is one question though.Why is it the local government or central government if it is a highway doing this especially if it is crucial for movement of people?Is it because the users of the roads are very small in number?
ReplyDeleteDear KP, thanks for the comment. Yes, it is a new subject for me, the credit must go to my friend Mr Nagarajan, IAS who is playing Good Samaritan. The Government overlooks the North east, one visit there and you will know why. The number of MPs represented by these areas are less due to the lesser land area and hence the Central Governments just turn deaf...
DeleteIn a government system ridden with corruption such people symbolize hope. And it also shows you don't need no NGO for community mobilization. People will come together if they feel the need. Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteTrue, Meera. NGOs are not required when lay man takes his own initiative. Thanks for the comment.
Delete1.An interesting and thoought provoking read..
ReplyDelete2.The country had neglected the FAR- OFF states frm center.. so that seperatist movement came to fore..
3.Again the domination of seperatist movemnts .. makes implementation of any Govt. initiated schemees difficult..
4.May b u r knowing or not.. one of my frd wrkd at Nagaland as a schol teacher said to me...they reciev many monetary aid from CENTER...despite..they do nt have any saving pattern or some thing...
5.How ever they hav a lesson for rest of india..do nt depend on Govt..make things wrk on ur own....(even we at TN hav to wrk hard on public sanitiatin and drainage facilities..as we are at height of DENGUE and Viral fevers...
Thanks for the comment. Yes, separatist movements rise only as the Governments fail to respond to the people's needs.
DeleteStill can't belive people are living in our country with no min facilitiess..Wish they should get min req to lead the life
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment, Kala. I too wish they could get the basic amenities...
DeleteHats off to Mr. Pame for initiating a noble work like this and kudos to you for raising awareness through this post. It's commendable to see the work being done, I wish it all completes well before Christmas. Thanks for sharing, CN.
ReplyDeleteThis is eye opening. I just voted for him with my Facebook account.
ReplyDeleteThat is such an inspiring post, CN. there are many young people who have such goals and know how to get the people involved too. May their tribe increase and we see development in such neglected states.
ReplyDeleteVery sensitive and informative. We in North India seriously lack information about NE. An inspiring initiative.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a merry Christmas and happy new year.
ReplyDeleteThe Lord's blessing be upon you as we walk into 2013.