'No development in 63 villages covered by RUF'

Imphal, Feb 1 : Government has neglected villages inhabitant by different communities like Kabui, Chiru, Tangkhul, Vaiphei and Maring under the jurisdiction of Rural Upliftment Federation (RUF) which is located only some 40 km away from Imphal, said S Bangal Vaiphei in a press conference held today at Children Training School, Shungriphai in Senapati district today.

A total of 63 villages home to five different tribes are cover by the RUF, he claimed while adding that the population is around 10,000 and the villages are lying under different Assembly constituencies like Saikhul, Heirok, Phungyar, Wangkhem and Lamlai, he said.

The villagers are living in harmony without affecting by the communal instinct and cultural exchange programme are held every year among the different communities settling here, Vaiphei said.

But he added any of the government development and welfare programme reach to theses villages.

The chairman of the Shanbun village MC Shemsan who also took part in the press conference said that apart from not covered by development programme like the MLA area development programme, tribal development programme, ICDS and other sanitation programmes other like healthcare and educational facilities are not getting in his village.

The only government run UJB School is also not functioning, teachers are enjoying salaries without teaching students and no safe drinking available, he added.