Vijoynagar is once again in the news since Governor of Arunachal Pradesh has urged the state’s Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Minister and BRO official to take measures so that the place can efface its ‘chronicdisconnect’ status. The place was also in news during first week of April when hectic preparations were on for simultaneous polls in Arunachal and fortunately managed to catch pan-India attention. It was unbelievable for all those who read the news or watched the news-clippings that there still exist a place in the country where there is no road and polling personnel had to be airlifted by IAF choppers  to discharge their duties. But it is true and Vijoynagar continues to exist in the same alienated state as it used to be several decades back.

History of the place dates back to 1961 when it was discovered by Assam Rifles during an expedition. It began its journey in deep isolation as there were no roads, communication channels, electricity or school and all bare necessities required for continuance of human life. But standing in year 2019, it is little remarkably different from those hard times and it is now the ‘road-less’ label which actually defines the place to the rest of the world. Once upon a time, in early 1970s Vijoynagar was connected by motorable road to Miao with  PWD commencing construction work in 1972 and it handing it for use in 1974. But due to lack of maintenance, it soon got abandoned,  buried under dense forest and washed away by landslides at several points. Thus, the 156 km distance from Miao where the basic essentials of life are available, is in reality ‘156 light years away’ for the hapless inhabitants of the place. It is a minimum of six days perilous foot march through the thick forests to reach Miao and the essential supplies including medicines are met only through helicopter services of the Air Force and the situation quite frequently becomes worse during inclement weathers. The impoverished people of this  remote hamlet thus have no option but to look to the sky, not for rain, but for a fair weather which would facilitate IAF choppers drop their ‘articles of  existence’.

It can be recalled that foundation stone of this much discussed  thoroughfare, the approximately 156 km  long  Miao-Vijoynagar road was laid way back in February 2013 with a targeted schedule of completion within three years. And since its already six years plus with promises only and no signs of substantial headway, it is expected that the zeal to complete it will now be more renewed and sincere. It is the only ray of hope forVijoynagar people which can free them from the current ‘prison-like’ existence. 

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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