IMPHAL, January 19: A combine team comprising of Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights led by its chairperson S Saratkumar Sharma and Manipur Alliance for Child Rights led by Montu Ahanthem visited Kharam Pallen Village on a fact finding visit in the aftermath of the January 4 earthquake.
The village is around 45 Km from Imphal and falls under Senapati district.
Kharam Pallen village is a tribal village of 100 household with a population of 575 people inclusive of about 200 children and was affected by the recent earthquake.
The lone village government primary school was damaged by the earthquake.
According to the village chief, ‘I have reported the matter to the concerned authorities; however, there has been no official response to the submission yet.’
The primary school has 45 students, four teachers and a head master, he said.
The village chief also lamented that there is no Anganwadi centre or a PHC in the village hence the poor villages are compelled to come till Imphal for accessing any health care.
He informed that the Primary Sub Centre at Keithelmanbi is non-functional and yet there has been no accountability from the concerned authorities.
The school headmaster also shared the need to upgrade the school to an upper primary school and add infrastructure to stop migration of the young students of the village to other places just for their primary education.
Montu Ahanthem also shared his concern on the damages inflicted on the lone school of the village and its impact on the young students observing that there has been no visible initiative to rebuild or repair the primary school till date.
Saratkumar assured that the MCPCR will recommend the school for reconstruction to the Education department and will direct the Social welfare department to implement ICDS/ ECCE for 0-6 year old children.