In this Arunachal border town, a bag of cement costs 8000

27 November 2017

People living in Vijoynagar, a sub-divisional town with just 1500 residents in the Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh, have to churn out an incredible Rs 8,000 for one bag of cement.

A border town located at the India-China-Myanmar tri-junction, Vijoynagar is completely cut off from the mainland and people have to walk for five days from the nearest thoroughfare in Miao to reach the town. Though there is a weekly helicopter service for transporting supplies, it is largely contingent on variable weather conditions.

“The Chakmas, who travel a distance cover a distance of 156km on foot to transport the cement, charge Rs 8,000 for one bag. A WC pan comes for Rs 2,000,” said Jumli Ado, a junior engineer in the Public Health Engineering (PHE). “All materials are transported to Vijoynagar through the Namdapha National Park. It takes five days for the Chakmas to reach Vijoynagar,” he added.

Because of its remote location and lack of proper connectivity, the sensitive border town remains untouched by development. Many of the inhabited villages are located in far-flung areas and lack essential commodities. The Central Purchase Organization (CPO) – now known as the public distribution system (PDS) – based at Mohanbari in Assam’s Dibrugarh district, was very effective in the 80s when essential items were airdropped in many remote areas. But with the PDS having turned out to be largely unsuccessful now, salt, which costs Rs 20 per kg in the state capital, has to be purchased for as much as Rs 250 here.

“People living in the border areas are forced to migrate to urban places because of the lack of basic amenities. These ghost towns along the border are one of the reasons why China is entering the territory,” former finance minister Kalikho Pul had said at a tribal ministers’ conference in New Delhi back in October 28, 2014.

“Union minister of state for home, Kiren Rijiju had announced in Itanagar in July 2014 a central government proposal to populate nearly 100 villages situated along the border. Though Arunachal shares an international boundary of 1,680km with Bhutan, China and Myanmar, the project has not seen the light of the day,” lamented Bordumsa village headman, Shekhep.

The PHE department has begun work in the town on the Individual Household Latrine (IHHL) project which is partially funded by the Centre. The Centre has sanctioned Rs 10,800 while the state pays Rs 9,200 for the construction of each latrine under the project. Ado, while taking part in the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan-Gramin awareness programme at Namphainong village on November 4, had said the IHHL project is moving at a fast pace despite numerous challenges. State civil supply minister Kamlung Mossang, who represents the Miao assembly constituency, pointed out the state government has also approved a road construction project for the area.

Source: TOI