Tipaimukh

thumb|right|">Map of Tipaimukh
Indigenous name: Ruonglevaisuo
Total numbers of villages: 55
Total households: 3,975
Total population: 24,084
Male: 12,220
Female: 11878
Areas of Habitation: 950 Km²
Areas of Villages: 1.57500 Km²
Total area: 789.48 Km²
Telephone code: 03874

Introduction

Tipaimukh is located in south-western hilly region of Manipur bordering the Indian state of Mizoram. It is one of the six tribal development blocks of Churachandpur district in Manipur state. Parbung is the sub-divisional block headquarters. Tipaimukh is the 55th Assembly Constituency of Manipur. The present sitting Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) is Ngursanglur. The total geographic area of the sub-division block is 789.48 km², having 55 villages with the total population of 23,995 approx. The total number of voters is 13,848. The total distance from the Parbung to the district headquarters town of Churachandpur is 247 km through the Tipaimukh Road,also known as NH 150.

Meaning of name

The indigenous name of “Tipaimukh” is “Ruonglevaisuo”. The word “Tipaimukh” is an amalgamation of two different words “Tipai” and “Mukh”. The word “Tipai” is the corrupted name coined for the river “Tuivai”, and “Mukh” meaning “mouth” in Bengali. Likewise, the name “Ruonglevaisuo” (ruong-le-vai-suo) is the combination of the words — “Ruong” from “Tuiruong” which is the local name for the river Barak; “Vai” meaning “wade” taken from the name of the river “Tuivai”; “Suo” meaning “confluence” and “le” meaning “and”. Hence, the name “Tipaimukh” or “Ruonglevaisuo” means the confluence of the Tuivai and Barak rivers.

People

The majority of the people inhabiting Tipaimukh are the indigenous Hmar people who are also spread in large numbers in neighbouring Indian states of Mizoram, Assam, Tripura and Meghalaya. The Hmars are one of the recognised Scheduled Tribes of India. The Hmars were the first to settle in this region since the 18th century. Other tribals inhabiting this region, but who are found in small numbers, are the kindred tribes of the Hmar viz., Gangte, Paite, Vaiphei, etc.

Situation

Tipaimukh is one of the most neglected regions in the state of Manipur. There is complete absence of state government establishment, no proper educational facilities, no hospitals, doctors or public health centres (PHC), no proper public distribution systems (PDS), no electrification and no proper communication system such as roadways, mobile or telephone connectivity. The people’s only reliable means of communication with those outside their region is through Radio. The region has been deprived of any development works for more than a decade or so.

Politics

Tipaimukh is part of Outer Manipur (Lok Sabha constituency). [cite web
url = http://archive.eci.gov.in/se2002/background/S14/Dist_PC_AC.pdf
title = Assembly Constituencies - Corresponding Districts and Parliamentary Constituencies
accessdate = 2008-10-07
work = Manipur
publisher = Election Commission of India ]

References

* [http://www.hmar.net, The indigenous Hmar people]
* [http://www.sinlung.com, Sinlung News]