UKHRUL: A government welfare programme designed to provide guaranteed rural employment is facing an unusual obstacle in the remote villages of Manipur’s Kamjong district—not a lack of workers, but a lack of connectivity.
The Sahamphung VB-GRAMG Association has accused the authorities of allowing poor mobile connectivity and prolonged delays in wage and material payments to undermine the implementation of the rural employment scheme across the border block.
At a press conference held at Sentinel College, Ukhrul, the association issued a 10-day ultimatum to the concerned authorities, demanding immediate intervention. It warned that failure to address the grievances within the deadline could lead to democratic agitations involving affected villages and people from other parts of Kamjong.
The association said the mandatory digital attendance system under the National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) has created serious difficulties for workers in areas where mobile networks are either unavailable or frequently disrupted.
Under the system, attendance has to be recorded electronically, including during both morning and evening sessions. But villagers in several remote locations reportedly struggle to access the system because of unreliable internet connectivity.
Association Chairman Aleng Shaiza said the people of Sahamphung Block have been unable to fully benefit from the rural employment programme because basic digital infrastructure required for its implementation remains inadequate.
Association General Secretary Thotrinchan Hungyo said the objective of improving transparency through digital monitoring should not become a barrier for workers living in areas without dependable network coverage.
The association claimed that job-card holders in several villages have not received payments for the financial years 2023–24 and 2024–25, besides the current financial year. It also alleged that implementation of the employment programme has remained disrupted during previous years.
Among the villages cited by the association are Chammu H Kaphung hamlet, Gampal, Kachouphung K, Kachouphung T, Kashung, Khayang, K. Phungtha hamlet, Langcha, Langkhe, Matiyang and Roni.
The association also raised concerns over what it described as irregular release of wages and material payments. It alleged that funds in Sahamphung Block are sometimes released only once a year or even once in two years, leaving workers and households dependent on rural employment schemes facing prolonged financial uncertainty.
The villagers have demanded a more predictable payment mechanism, with timely release of both wage and material components. They said employment programmes meant to provide income security cannot achieve their purpose if workers are required to wait for extended periods before receiving payments.
The network problem, according to the association, has consequences beyond the employment scheme. It said the existing cellular tower frequently becomes non-functional and connectivity can remain unavailable for prolonged periods, affecting online education, banking, digital government services and emergency communication.
The association has therefore sought an immediate technical inspection of the cellular infrastructure, restoration of the existing tower and measures to ensure consistent network coverage in the block.
For communities located in remote border areas, the association argued, mobile connectivity has become an essential service rather than merely a convenience.
The 10-day ultimatum now places the issue before the concerned government departments, telecom authorities and service providers.
The central concern raised by the villagers is whether a digitally administered welfare programme can function effectively in areas where the basic digital infrastructure needed to access it remains unreliable.
The association has called for immediate action on both fronts—clearing pending payments and restoring dependable connectivity—while warning that failure to respond within the deadline could lead to wider mobilisation across the Kamjong region.
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