Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Khandu for fast development of remotest border villages

TAWANG, Dec 22: Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, who is on a three-day tour to Tawang district, today visited Tawang’s remotest village Mago on the borders with China and circle headquarters Thingbu, informed PRO to CM from Tawang.

Addressing villagers in both the villages Khandu emphasized on cleanliness, education and hard work. Dissuading them from bad habits like drinking and smoking, he urged them to make good use of the money earned from selling animal produces. Assuring all possible development in the region, the Chief Minister promised to arrange periodical chopper services to the villages.

Demanding the government servants posted in the area to stay put in their respective places of posting, Khandu informed that the Government had already approved a scheme for special incentives to officials working in harsh topographic and terrain conditions.

Expressing his joy on being with the people of the remotest villages of the district, Deputy Commissioner Gamli Padu, who accompanied the Chief Minister, assured all possible assistance from the district administration for development of the area and welfare of the villagers. He promised to visit the area again to get first hand knowledge of the problems faced by the people.
Earlier, Thingbu Circle Officer Pemtan Monpa accorded a warm reception to the visiting dignitaries. Even with limited resources, the officer organized a cultural programme to entertain the guests.

Margo and Thingbu are situated at a height of more than 14,000 ft above sea level with harsh climatic conditions that hardly facilitates any agricultural produce. The main occupation of the people here is animal rearing and their main source of livelihood is animal produces like Ghee and Churpi (Cheese). People purchase essential commodities from nearest town Jang, which is 45 kms away that takes about 12 hours on foot.

There is no surface communication to these villages till this day. However, under the initiative of the Chief Minister, who represents the constituency, roads are under construction on a war footing and are expected to connect the villages with the rest of the world in another two years.
Both Mago and Thingbu, though very remote, are of special prominence for the Buddhists of Tawang. The area abounds with Tsa Chu or hot water springs believed to be sacred with powers to wash away all sins. The region is also home to Worm Grass, which is highly prized by practitioners of Tibetan, Chinese and traditional medicines used as aphrodisiac and to treat various ailments from fatigue to cancer.

Nature in its best, the landscape of both Thingbu and Mago is breathtakingly scenic with rich and rare flora and fauna. THE SENTINEL

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