Even as the Burmese military junta ignores the needs of the Chin people, the people of Chin state are engaged in construction of roads, with money from their own pockets to meet their needs of transportation.
According to a local from Helei Village, the road between Conghoih Village, Falam Township and Helei Village of Tidim Township, in western Burma was being constructed under the supervision of the Village Peace and Development Council (VPDC), so that motor vehicles could ply smoothly.
"We have already requested for some funds for that road, to Chin State Tactical Commander Mr. Hung Ngai, but, he did not respond. The villagers, therefore have started to construct the road with their own money and on their own initiative," a local person said.
The villagers requested for some donations from their own village and they also requested those, who are in foreign countries to give donations. Construction work for the road began on April 1. The completed portion is about six miles in length. The villagers are using machines for the construction but the cost of hiring the machines is so high, that they are facing severe financial difficulties. They used a bulldozer, which cost Rs 1800 per hour.
Similarly, the Northwest Road Construction Team (12) has been collecting money from travelers of Kalemyo and Letpanchawng Village, Sagaing Division, Western Burma.
"They collect Kyat 50 per head and Kyat 1000 per motor vehicle," a local person said.
If they do not have money with them, the team records their name and collects double the amount from them, when they come again. So they try to earn Kyat 8000 per day, in order to purchase wood for the construction and to pay daily wages to the workers.
There are two check gates on the Kale-Letpanchawng road. The authorities used to collect passing charges from bicycles, bikes and other vehicles, but they did not bother to reconstruct the road, when it was damaged.
Meanwhile, the Village Peace and Development Council (VPDC) of Taungphila Block in Kalemyo also collected Kyat 500 per house within its block, to rebuild the bridge, which links it to other blocks.
