(Untold story from a village in Kiphire District)
Seyochung village I situated in the remote North Eastern part of the Kiphire district in the present state of Nagaland, established about 130 years ago. It lies bordering to Zunheboto District of Nagaland State to the north, Phek district to the south and west and Burma to the east, with a population of 6000, is known for its rich multi faceted traditional costumes and festivals. The majestic traditional Headgear is pride of the village, adorned with three hornbill feathers, arranged with thousand crimson seeds and crafted with indigenous cane is one of the most priceless articles in the whole world. Among-Mong is the major festival observed by the villagers on the first week of September, sharing happiness and merry making with colourful folk dances from each old and youngsters’ stage with the sharing meal at each khels and clans. No doubt, maintaining their rich cultural heritage and tradition is the pride of the villagers.
The well preserved rain forest which forms part of the Chingkhu Forest, rich flora and fauna where Hornbills, tragopan, Peacock, wild tigers, leopards are found and also rare species of indigenous herbal plants which are in abundance, is a natural expression of the village community’s collective initiative in maintaining their proximity to their land and nature. The main occupation of this village is agriculture and Jhuming. The ecological feature provides an ideal condition for cultivation of ginger, banana orange, potatoes, tomato, chilly, cabbages etc. It is one of the highest and finest quality rice called Kipong and Tsangnoh producing village in Kiphire district with a market value of Rupees 350/- per tin(one tin of rice is equivalent to 17 Kilograms). Trade and commerce with the neighboring villages and towns, exchange business trade with Aghunato, Hoshepu to the north, Myanmar to the East and southern part of Phek district called Khuza, Kiza which have a better peaceful co-existence, co-relation and continue through business exchange system-one basket(khang) to one tin of dry chilly from the bordering villages, to earn our daily livelihood, which is about 30-60 Km distance on foot, however, the availability of imported goods and exports business are amazing when compared to other advanced villages in Nagaland to an extend in a ratio with other international trade centre acknowledged by the government under many departments like land Resources, Horticulture ns Sericulture but sadly only in letter and not in action for the entire area.
Life in Seyochung is not an easy road. It ahs only one Government Middle school and one Government Primary School administered by the Villager’s initiative. Hardly about 120 people are employed in Government sector pout of 6000 population. The village is an island through out monsoon because of the non availability of modern road linkages and approach roads. The sick people who are carried by a stretcher for almost 6-8 hours gamble for life due to the lack of basic medical facilities, as the nearest highway connecting to Kiphire is 75 Kilometers away from village. The water supply is bitterly scarce since 1980s, only the abundance pipes lying on the ground , scattered around which only disrupt a children to play on the ground and the Government fails to collect those scattered pipes though they reluctant to fix for water supply.
The only available record of the initiative taken by the power department for electrification to this village goes way back to 1998. Surprisingly, many people in this village have never seen electricity in their life. We could at least see electric current once in a blue moon which is like a burning cigarette always with dim light when it is available. Despite the work to be done by the Department, the village community took initiative to transport wires and poles from Khetoi- Tokiye of Aghunato Division to Seyochung Village and the entire area without any assistance from vehicle but by foot alone working persistently for almost a week in 1975-76, erecting posts wherever necessary. However, the department abruptly ended the project without any reason, leaving aside all the materials under the mercy of Mother Nature. Then the lighting system continued to be kerosene lamp, sometimes not in use due to non availability of state supply kerosene; inspite of the woe the indigenous lighting system from pine wood come s rescue for both household work and students to complete their homework. And what was surprising was, after three years the uninstalled transformer ere taken away for repairing and never to be seen again. True, we do not pay our dues to the department under Zunheboto Circle which the concerned departments direct us to pay there though we are under Kiphire District and we feel the same as the revenue goes under the same Electricity Department of Nagaland state and the same will incur under state economy. We have advocated the same common cause and the grievance of the entire Area to the concerned MLA and the Parliamentary Secretary but what we learnt from them was under process and all will be done before March 2007 but when? And now the end of the year too is approaching. Now the rusted erected post remains for the creepers to grow and useful for the Village structural stand for PA system. The neighboring villages like Old and New Monger, Yingphire, Seyochung Town, Yangzitong, Thangthure and Thsingar village faces the same deprivation of these basic amenities since last fifteen to twenty years.
Now the question remains:
1. Was there lapse in the funding by the state for the Seyochung Area?
2. Was the fund for this project siphoned off by the officers of the concerned department, beaucrates or politicians?
3. Is it necessary to elect the Legislative Member to address these needs and grievances for the public from the Area?
4. Was it the size and population that did not meet the required term and conditions of the government rules for electrification and water supply
5. Has the Deputy Commissioner, head of the district remained a mere spectator towards all kinds of injustice? Or
6. Is the silence of the people from these areas misunderstood as a sign of submissiveness to the issue?
These calls for the urgent explanation from the concerned department and appeal to his Excellency, The Governor of Nagaland for his intervention and to all Naga social organization, students Union and right thinking citizens in the interest of basic human rights, rights to live as equal with the rest of the people, who enjoys much better privileges in the civilized modern society.
S. Kyupise Anar,
Seyochung Village
