Imphal, Feb 20 (NNN): A remote village in Tamenglong district of Manipur has remained inaccessible for as long as memory can recollect. Being cut off from the outside world had creating a fertile ground for the germination of hardboiled militants during the chaotic late 1980s and early 1990s. For L Pabram village located 15 km. away from Tamenglong district headquarters, all that is soon expected to change with Union Home Secretary GK Pillai promising to roll out motorable road linking the village to the outside world for the first time.
It all started when Athanbou Pamei, 53, visited Delhi at the invitation of Friendship Forum of India. He has been conferred with the best `personality` and `great Indian citizen` awards by Friendship Forum of India at a lavish function in Delhi on February 13. The awards carry one each of gold medal, a citation and a plate.
Athanbou met the Union Home Secretary GK Pillai during the visit which turned out to be a serendipitous moment. GK Pillai has reportedly promised Athanbou`”who is the chief of the village`”a tarmac road from Tamenglong district headquarters all the way to his village measuring 15 kms. L Pabram village with just 75 houses has since been celebrating at the prospect of the world being driven into their village.
When Athanbou Pamei was promised that a motorable road will finally link his village to the outside world, he broke into tears, reported Indian Express on February 16.
After it shunned militancy, the village has taken up orange farming seriously but the lack of a road makes it difficult to compete, `the pucca road will make it easy to get to the market`, the newspaper quoted him as saying.
`It is a great stride`, said Kikhon Pamei, Athanbou`™s eldest son, to Newmai News Network, `that the 15 km. approach road to the village would soon be blacktopped to upset both economic and emergency impenetrability thereby ushering in a new era of hope and prosperity for the people of L Pabram village`.
Border Roads Organization (BRO) has already been asked to conduct a survey, he said, adding that the project would be funded by DoNER Ministry of the Government of India.
