Tangsa Naga living in deplorable conditions in Malu Pahar

HT Correspondent
MARGHERITA, Sept 23: “After 75 years of our country’s independence and while our country is celebrating ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’, being a Tangsa Naga, I am deprived, exploited and discriminated by all section of people,” said Jannya Hakhun, a postgraduate student from Dibrugarh University.
“Tangsa Naga are the largest community of north-eastern states but at Malu Pahar of Tikak Colliery under 124 number Margherita constituency of Tinsukia district, the Tangsa Naga community is living a deplorable life,” said Jannya Hakhun.
“At Malu Pahar, there are no schools, no medical health centre, no drinking water supply, poor condition of roads and above all fear of life and property from outsiders,” said a graduate Tangsa girl of Malu Pahar.
“There are a total of 700 Tangsa Naga people at Malu Pahar with 100 houses,” said Jannya Hakhun.
“There are many school dropouts at Malu Pahar and this is because of the pathetic road as many small school students fear to cross the slippery road and many times students broke their hands and legs while going to school,” said Tehan Hakun, gaon burah (Village Pradhan) of Malu Pahar.
“Tinsukia district administration told me that Malu Pahar does not fall under the Assam Government so they cannot give me any salary and other facilities. Only for name’s sake, I am a gaon burah,” added Tehan Hakun.
Malu Pahar is named after Malu king where Malu 1 falls under Arunachal Pradesh and Malu 2, 3 of Tikak Colliery fall under Assam.
“In the year 1981, the management of NEC Coal India Ltd Margherita signed an agreement between 3 gaon burah of Malu Pahar 1, 2 and 3 that NEC shall provide school, medical health centre, safe drinking water supply, proper roads and above all jobs at NEC but after 42 years of the agreement not a single commitment has fulfilled,” said Tehan Hakun.
“There are a total of 300 male and 400 female Tangsa Naga community people residing at Malu Pahar 2 where jhum cultivation and agriculture is the main source of income,” said Tehan Hakun.