TYCM to Launch Ground Survey in Tribal Villages to Assess Development Gaps

Imphal, July 17: The Tribal Youth Council Manipur (TYCM) has decided to roll out a state-wide Village Level Voluntary Survey (VLVS) across all tribal villages in Manipur. The decision was taken during an emergency meeting of the Central Executive Council (CEC) held today at the Council’s General Headquarters, as per a press statement.

The aim of the survey, TYCM said, is to identify areas where government infrastructure and development schemes are lacking in tribal regions. TYCM said the initiative is meant to collect accurate, village-level information that can serve as a reference for future development planning and policy decisions.

The VLVS will cover development indicators related to 30 government departments, ranging from Agriculture, Education, Health, and Power, to Rural Development, Tribal Affairs, and Social Welfare, among others.

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The survey will be carried out using a standardised format, and responses must be authenticated by the local village authorities, including headmen, chairmen, chiefs, or traditional councils like the Pei or Khunbu. Completed forms are to be submitted either to the TYCM office in Imphal or to the designated district-level VLVS coordinators.

According to TYCM, once all the data is compiled, it will be officially submitted to the Government of Manipur with the expectation that the findings will be considered seriously, especially in villages where development has long been overlooked.

“We believe this data will provide a clear picture of what our tribal villages really need. It’s time policies are backed by real, on-the-ground information,” said a representative of TYCM.

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The Tribal Council has appealed to all tribal village authorities and civil society organisations to extend full cooperation for the smooth and effective implementation of the survey.

The official start date for the VLVS will be announced by the CEC in the coming days.