In existence as a community since the 18th century, Sita
village is perched on a lofty hilltop-1420 m above mean sea level (Ayapurel
Hill Range, Tengnoupal Sub Division). It is 87 kms away from Imphal and roughly
about 20 kms west to the Indo-Myanmar border. Sita
village was one of the several scenes of intense battle during the 1st World
War(in the form of Kuki Rebellion against the British) and 2nd World War. The village is inhabited by households
belonging to various clans of the Kuki tribes. Throughout its history, these
kinsmen have been living as a closely-knitted peace-loving community, while
also maintaining a peaceful and cordial relationship with the neighbouring
villages and tribes.
Sita, like any other Kuki villages is governed by the HaosaPu/InpiPu (Chief), along with his Semang-Pachong (Council of
Ministers) who are elected by the village electorate during their Annual
Assembly-‘ Chaangchi kho’ in local parlance. The village Inpi
(Assembly+Secretariat+Court) acts as the guardian of the village and works for
the welfare of the people. In this modern era, apart from traditional
governance, they see to it that the State-sponsored welfare and development
programmes reach the intended stakeholders of the village (despite all the odds
of 'greasing palms' and ‘Manipur
gi chatnabi’).
The present generation Chief is Pu Paokholun Haokip, son of Pu Thangjalet Haokip and great-grandson of Pu M. Lunkhothang Haokip@Sita Paboi who played a pivotal role during
the Kuki War of Independence/Kuki Rising,waged by the Kuki tribesmen from
1917-1919 against the Imperial British army. Decades later, many warriors from
the village joined the camp of the Indian National Army during the Second World
War, the patriotic blood of theirs still with us- the contemporary generation.
The villagers of Sita own a large tract of forest land
with nature in its pristine glory catering to most of the needs of the
villagers. The forest cover, despite Jhum cultivation is thick as compared to
many other hill areas where logging and profit-oriented deforestation is
rampant. The village has a traditional forest reserve and logging is normally
limited to construction materials for household use within the village
habitation area. While agriculture through Jhum cultivation is still the
major occupation of the villagers, since decades back, Education has been
taking a firm root in the village with the establishment of the Sita Government
High School. Since then, many of the villagers have had great achievements in
the field of education and skilled services.
In the development sector, during the period 1997-2007,
the Sita Women's Development Association (SWDA), a women-oriented NGO
registered as a society, worked with the villagers on an Integrated Rural
Development project through funding from EZE, Germany courtesy AFPRO, Delhi.
This brought immense positive changes in the lives of the villagers thereby
taking them to a higher level of socio-economic wellbeing. The village has
since been looked upon as a catalyst initiating positive changes in
neighbouring villages. Adding on, the village has a strong and active Youth
club which works together with the Eastern Youth Action for Development (EYAD).
It is all because of the Chief's sacrificial concern for
the development of the village community that the village has come this far.
Still, there is a long way to go in rural development. It is our wish and
belief that the Chief of Sita, throughout this generation as well as in the
generations to come, will keep working for the welfare of the people in his
sacrificial capacity, as well as in coordination with external agencies
concerned, as always- in ways that best suit the
local needs, interests and priorities. Taq
Chapa!! "Long Live the
Chief!!" “God Bless the Village!”
Click Here for more info: Sita Village@Facebook
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| Sita Khopi, Chandel district, Manipur-795135 |
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