Manipur MP adopts Kwatha to be ‘model village’

Our Correspondent Imphal, Jan. 13 (EMN): Kwatha, a small remote village in the hilly terrain in Manipur’s Tengnoupal district bordering Myanmar has been adopted to be a model village under the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY). Member of the Rajya Sabha K Bhabananda Singh made an announcement in this regard during a ceremony at Kwatha village, about 95km south of Imphal on Jan. 12 Fri. The function was organised by the district administration and the district rural development agency of Tengnoupal district. Addressing the gathering, Bhabananda Singh said that ‘If one village is not developed the whole nation cannot be developed.’ All those given in the guidelines cannot be implemented in every village since there are topographical differences of the region. Citing the reason for adopting Kwatha village as model village, he said ‘It is one of the most backward villages in the state with a small population.’ If the scheme is to be fully implemented there needs to be a balance between the population and the infrastructures which are to be provided, he said, and that way, migration to other villages can be checked. Support and participation of the locals are needed for implementation of the scheme, the MP said. He stressed on the importance of training the locals about healthcare because basic healthcare seems to be lacking in the village. He said that to bring any kind of development, peace was ‘necessary.’ The Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana aims to empower villages. The scheme aims to pave ways for development through community involvement and entrepreneurial skills. The scheme also envisages integrated development of the rural villages across multiple areas such as, sanitation, environment, education, health, agriculture, livelihood, etc. to improve standard of living, enriched social capital and build community spirit that will ensure long term positive change.