IT News
Imphal, Oct 18:
Khuringmul Village under Chandel District celebrated its 37th Annual Harvesting Festival on the 16th and 17th of October 2021 under the theme “Give honour to God with thy blessing of harvest” with the former chief of Komlathabi as Chief Guest and Rina Aimol as Guest of Honour.
The highlight of the festival was the various traditional songs and dances presented in colourful traditional attires by various groups narrating the traditional folklores which has been used to hand down the history and traditions of the Tarao tribe which inhabits the village. K. Solomon, one of the founders and present Chief of the village narrated the cultural customary story and emphasised on the rich and beautiful tradition and customs of the Tarao tribe which has been passed down through generations in detail.
Founded in 1984, Khuringmul village is situated just 2 kilometeres to the west of Pallel bazar but the stark difference in facilities or the lack thereof relating to transport and communication and other basic amenities is glaring. With a population of about 300 and the largest village of Tarao tribe in the state which have a total population a little shy of one thousand members, the tribe considered one of the smallest tribe in the state and the lack of basic facilities in the village despite 37 years of its existence so near the main thoroughfare points to a lack of attention and negligence on the part of the state authorities in proving the much needed basic infrastructures to the village.
The most obvious indicator is the lack of a bridge to facilitate transportation to the village till date despite repeated appeals and requests to the state authorities as the village is accessed after crossing a small river which becomes difficult and often impossible during rainy season. The absence of a public health and primary educational centres is still a big hindrance in the efforts of the villagers to provide education and healthcare facilities for those residing in the village. Absence of a bridge is still making transportation of goods and other essential items a challenge for the villagers who are mainly skilled craftsperson engaged in traditional basketry and other items of wood and bamboo in transporting and marketing their products outside the village.
Despite these many shortcomings, the generous and hospitable villagers have managed to make the best of the limited resources available to them and their spirit of unity and strong social bond is evident in the feast which was held the next day where the rich and beautiful traditional rituals were observed and displayed.
The much publicised and advertised efforts of the state government of reaching out to the people of the hill with the ‘Go to Hills” campaign in its second iteration can truly succeed only when such small and marginalised tribes are taken into the ambit of consideration of the authorities executing the campaign by genuinely working to promote their welfare and provide the much needed and hitherto denied basic facilities to make life more fruitful and easier without engaging in vote-bank politics.
