ITANAGAR, Dec 3: The All Khakam Students’ Union (AKSU), the parent student body of Khakam Block under Pongchau Circle of Longding district has announced it will boycott the ensuing Panchayati Raj election as a mark of protest against non-fulfilment of their long-pending demand for construction of roads in the area and to press forward the demand of entrusting the construction assignment to the Border Roads Organization (BRO).
Conveying its decision through a press release on Thursday, the AKSU while claiming that it has the support from all other organizations under the Block, alleged the demands have not been heard by the concerned authorities for a long time resulting in prolonged suffering by the area’s people and even loss of life. Drawing reference to its appeal to the Governor of the state on November 23 last which specifically sought involvement of the BRO/BRTF in Khakam Block road building process, the union informed it will abstain from voting on the polling day with the theme ‘No Road No Vote’. “The Khakam area shares an international boundary with Myanmar and being an important region in terms of national security, it falls within the jurisdiction of the BRO. There are four roads that connect five villages under the Block with other places of the district and none of them are reliable,” the release mentioned, adding that construction of these roads has been continuing since 30 years, commencing first in 1981-82 under RWD, transferred subsequently to PWD in 1989-2009 and currently under RWD as a part of the PMGSY scheme.
“None of the departments has completed the work properly till date, despite several appeals to the state government. So, in order to make the demand more impactful, the voice has been raised by the union with support from the entire population of the villages,” the union said, clarifying however that the vote boycott decision is not directed against any individual and should be viewed as an effort to draw attention of authorities at the state level so that the long-pending issue has an early resolution.
The union further claimed it has support from the Women’s Welfare Society active in the five villages of Kamhua Noknu, Kamhua Noksa, Khasa, Jagan and Votnu under Khakam Block. It needs mentioning that the women’s organisation had earlier expressed discontent over the death of Nonsai Pansa who reportedly died due to lack of timely medical care during childbirth and many other women of the area have to experience the same difficulties due to lack of appropriate healthcare centre and poor road condition that delays timely arrival to the district hospital during pregnancy and delivery.
As per the union, lack of proper road connectivity is a major cause of discouragement to the youths of the area from undertaking business and other meaningful activities and has thus far remained the biggest obstacle to socio-economic development. The same was echoed by the Khakam Drivers’ Union who said driving through these roads has become a nightmare now with the risk of life the constant companion.

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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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