Closure of only bank in Nungba leaves many in the lurch

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 20 : Even as the ethnic clash between Meeteis and Kukis which started on May 3, 2023 is running into the 18th month, the protracted unrest has taken a heavy toll on the socio-economic activities of other communities too.
One such case is the closure of the Nungba branch of Manipur Rural Bank (located at Nungba Bazar) where people of different villages in Nungba Sub-Division in Noney opened their bank accounts.
The only bank in Nungba Sub-Division has been closed since Manipur plunged into turmoil after the tribal solidarity march organised by All Tribal Students' Union of Manipur (ATSUM)  on May 3, 2023 turned violent at Kuki dominated places such as Churachandpur and Moreh among others.
The bank still doesn't have sufficient manpower to operate as its Manager and other staff who fled the place haven't returned.
Notably, people of Rongmei villages such as Nungba, M Khunou, M Khullen, Muktina, Kekru Naga, Kambirol, Kokolong, Thingou, Khongsang,  Sibilong have their accounts at the Nungba branch of Manipur Rural Bank.
Apart from doing normal transactions, people of these Rongmei villages also used to take loans from this bank.
The bank, however, has been closed for over a year now due to the unrest and the same has seriously affected the lives of the Rongmei people, especially in Nungba Sub-Division.
Speaking to The Sangai Express, a staff (Customer Service Point) of the bank said that the Manager, Cashier and many other staff of the bank are Meiteis and they all have fled the place after the violence erupted more than a year ago.
He said that he has been helping the customers who need emergency services in the absence of the Manager and the Cashier who are Meeteis.
Saying that an order was issued appointing two Kuki people as Manager in-charge and  cashier, he added that the appointees, however, haven't joined the bank as of yet.
Meanwhile, Rocky, a customer of the bank, said that it is essential for every family to have a bank account opened for many reasons these days.
Saying that people of Nungba and its adjacent areas were very happy when the Nungba branch of Manipur Rural Bank was opened as sending money to their children in Imphal and  other States became more convenient, Rocky said that many people also took loans from the bank to start small businesses.
Saying that wages of MGNREGS are also transferred to the bank accounts, he added that their socio-economic activities have been greatly affected by the closure of the bank.
He further said that now they either go to the Noney or Imphal branch of the Manipur Rural Bank whenever they need to withdraw money.
Saying that the portion of National Highway 37 which connects Nungba and Noney is in a pathetic condition, Rocky  added that going to Imphal is also problematic to them as the distance is long.
Chief  of Muktina village Kajukngai Gonmei, on the other hand, said that the  closure of Nungba branch of Manipur Rural Bank has given additional burden to them.
Though tiring, people used to go upto the Nungba branch of the bank on foot to collect wages for MGNREGS, he said and added that withdrawing money has become an arduous task to them.
Saying that they either take money from the non locals by transferring the money through a digital transaction system or travel to Noney or Imphal, he appealed to the Government and relevant authorities to understand the plight of the  people and open the bank.