Churachandpur Deputy Commissioner address on 2008 Republic Day Celebration

Before I touch upon the issues in my address I would like to officer my deep condolence for the departed souls of innocent victims who list their lives in thei road accident on Singngat – Behiang road on 17th January 2008. May God their soul rest in peace and their families have enough strength to cope up with the tragedy.

Firstly, We have been able to maintain communal harmony in the district duntgring last year. I Feel that this is the biggest challege we face in view of the complex ethnic setting of the district and more so in view of the violent past. Its my earnest appleal to all communities to maintain the communal harmony and let there be zero-tolerance for those who become to hurdle on this path. The peaceful co-existence of numerous tribes in this land is not a mere wishful thinking but actually the only way out a vailable to us to survive. I would like to quote John Locke the great English Philosopher here:

“To love nour neighbors as ourselves is such a truth for regulalating human society that by that alone one might determine all the cases in social morality.”

Secondly, during last one year the state Government and the District Administration achieved substantial amount of success on certain welfare and development fronts while on certain issues more efforts and concentration seem to be require. A massive program to improve the health facilities is underway under Natinal Rural Health Mission in the District. Primary Health Centres and Community Health Centres are being upgraded and more and more funds are beong made available to village and Block level health centers, In respect of connectivity work in underway on two important roads- one connecting the Henglep Sub Division and other one on Guite Road. Besides Singngat has seen the commissioning of new power station.

On the development front the historic and path breaking National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) sucessully took off in our district with remotest of corner of the district saw the hectic work execution and employment generation as envisaged by the scheme. We got less than 10 percent of our annual plan and even with that amount our village authorities and govt set up proved it beyond doubt that employment generation in villages in actually possible. We have executed around 800 big and small projects. This includes works like inter village roads, plantation, drainange and flood controls strctures. We have already given 10-15 days of employment to each house of 5 blocks of Lamka, Samulamlan, Saikot, Tuibuoang and Sangaikot while 20-25 days of employment is given to each house of remaining blocks of Tipaimukh, Thanlon,Singngat, Henglep and Vangai. The National Level monitors and official of Government of India have physically inspected our villages and they have been extremely happly with the progress.

And now are going to provide full 100 days of wage employment to each and every house of 3 blocks which are worst affected by the apprehended natural calamities and facethe threat of food grain scarcity. Our ultimate aim is to provide full 100 days of employment to each house of entire district. The district is in the unprecedented ‘awareness-whirwind’ of this scheme and this is the core of its success.

Thirdly, We have been able to streamline the PDS network to some extent. Earlier, the PDS supply was marked by frequent loss of montly quota of food grain and illegal diversion. However for last one year we have been able to mobilize resources and lift the food grain regularly. We have been able to sent the rice to remote areas like, Tipaimukh, Thanlon, Singngat and Henglep. But most importantly we were able to open proper “Fair Price Shops” at least in town area of Churachandpur after a very longtime. However I must admit that a lot still needs to be desired and done in PDS System.

Fourthly, Ladies and gentlemen! We are being cautioned by many that a threat of food grain scarcity in some part of our district is ominously stalking us. This is reportedlyu caused byrodent menace triggered by bamboo flowering and other natural calamities. Its really an irony that while India has had unmanageablely huge buffer stocks of food grains we still feel threatened by food grain scarcity. I Would like to quote Martin Luther King Jr here:

“Why should there be hunger and deprivation in any land, in any city, at any table, when man has the resources and scientific know how to provide all mankind with basic necessities of life? There is no deficit in human resources. There is deficit in human will.”

And it is with this realization that we are planning to cope up with this kind of threat – if any- and for this I make an earnest appeal to one and all to come forward and help us battle this menace. Our revenue authorities are currently busy in making assessment of crop failure and very soon the severity and extent of damage and threat will be verified and based on which further corrective measures will be taken. It is heartening to note that several philanthropic and social organizations havce already come forward to find the solution.

At the end I once again congratulate you all on the occasioni fo this pios national festival which marks another milestone in the glorious march of this largest democracy of world. With these Words I close my speech. Jai Hind.

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