Outreach programme held at remote Riflemara by Hailakandi administration

A Correspondent

Hailakandi: As part of the outreach programme, Deputy Commissioner Keerthi Jalli visited the hard-to-reach Riflemara area close to the inter-state Assam-Mizoram border. With senior officials of the administration and heads of departments in tow, Deputy Commissioner, Jalli trudged along for several kilometres negotiating mud and slush, undulating terrain, rickety bamboo bridges and rivulets amidst inclement weather to reach Riflemara, a place mostly inhabited by Reang people of around 5,000.

The local people greeted the Deputy Commissioner and the officials in a traditional manner with a showering of petals to the accompaniment of dhol and cymbals.

The Deputy Commissioner interacted with the people to get first-hand accounts of the problems being faced by them. Jalli listened intently to the litany of woes, as development is a far cry for Reang tribals in this nondescript hamlet.

While some problems were redressed on the spot, others were given a timeframe for the solution by the Deputy Commissioner. Jalli received a memorandum from the village headman listing various problems plaguing the local people. Assuring the people of the administration’s help and support to overcome the problems, Jalli told them that her intention of coming here was to get first-hand knowledge of the problems and to bring the administration closer to the people, especially those living in far-flung and inaccessible areas. “We have come here so that you get basic amenities and other benefits of the State and Central Governments,” quipped Jalli to the thunderous cheers of the gathering.

Creating awareness on various government welfare-oriented schemes and on health and hygiene and nutrition also forms an intrinsic part of the outreach programme. A health camp was organized by the Health Department in which medical check-up was done including the free distribution of medicine. Take away ration and seeds were also distributed. Even a safe delivery kit was distributed to pregnant women. Said District Programme Manager, National Health Mission, Maruf Alom Barbhuiya, “The safe delivery kit to women in advance stage done at the initiative of the Deputy Commissioner is not to encourage delivery at home but given to handle emergency case as sometimes reaching to a health center from a remote place like Riflemara may not happen on time.”

The sub centre is in a dilapidated condition. ANMs and other health workers visit the place. The nearest health dispensary is at Jamira, 10-km away from Riflemara. “In terms of distance, it’s not far off. But there is no road worth the name and this makes it very difficult to carry a patient to Jamira,” said Bipin Reang.

Villagers are hoping that the coming of Deputy Commissioner with senior officials of various departments will bring in a new wave of development to their village that has remained neglected for decades. Under the pilot program of Jonogoner Dware Sushason (governance at your doorstep), the Deputy Commissioner, with heads of different departments in tow, is visiting remote and inaccessible places to inquire into problems, which would, in turn, enable the administration to formulate a comprehensive development plan in the upcoming fiscal.

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