Churachandpur district

The land was founded and settled by the hill people or Zo peoples

The present greater Lamka town is formed with the expansion of the villages settled by the Zo peoples .

Mata Dam in 2006

The district is inhabited by several Zo tribes.more recently the meiteis and meitei-pangans have started settling in the district. As of the 2011 census, Churachandpur district had a population of 271,274,[3] roughly equal to that of Barbados.[4] This gives it a ranking of 575th in India (out of a total of 640 districts).[3] It has a population density of 59 inhabitants per square kilometre (150/sq mi).[3] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001–2011 was 19.03%.[3] Churachandpur has a sex ratio of 969 females for every 1000 males,[3] and a literacy rate of 84.29%.[3]

Churachandpur is both flat and hilly.

Mata Dam (Khuga Dam) is located towards the south of Churachandpur town. This dam was inaugurated by Smt. Sonia Gandhi in 2010. This dam was constructed to fulfil the requirement of electricity and water in the nearby areas. Tourists can visit the artificial lake, which is a part of this dam.

Prominent villages are Hiangtam Lamka, Zenhang Lamka, Tuibong,Bijang,Chiengkonpang, D. Phailen, Bungmual, Pearsonmun, Hilltown, New Lamka,Thingkangphai, Mata, Tangnuam, Singngat, Behiang, Suangdoh, Mualnuam, Songtal, Lungthul, Thanlon, Kaihlam, Leizangphai, Mata Lambulane, Mission Compound, Ngurte, Tuaitengphai, Rengkai, Saikot, Neihsial Veng, Sangaikot, Saidan, Tuithapi, Khomawi, Bethel, Koite, Khengjang, Kangvai.

Major languages spoken are Thadou, Paite, Hmar, Vaiphei, Lusei (Mizo), Zou, Simte, Gangte, Kom, Aimol, Thangkhal/Mate, Chothe etc. Their languages are close and they can understand each other. And also varieties within each of these languages. Apart from the local languages English, Hindi and Manipuri (Meitei) are also used.

There are also fewer than 3,000 speakers of the Chin-Kuki-Mizo Aimol language, which is written using Latin script.[5]

Majority of the local communities of Churachandpur/Lamka follow Christianity as their religion. Hinduism, Islam and Judaism are other prominent religions among residents of the district

Churachandpur has many good educational institutions.

District Hospital Churachandpur is located within the Lamka town. Initially it was a Dispensary with few staffs and in the year 1968 it became a 50 bedded Civil Hospital which was inaugurated by Shri Baleswar Prasad, Chief Commissioner of Manipur on 8/6/1968. The hospital was extended with another 50 bedded new building inaugurated on 17 May 1985 by the Medical Minister Shri T. Phungzathang Tonsing and became a 100 bedded one. The present Building OPD block was inaugurated on 31/05/2002 and O.T wing on 23/12/2013 and lastly the Trauma Centre on 19/07/2014 by the Hon’ble Chief Minister in presence of Health Minister and Industries Minister. The Government of Manipur approved upgrading the hospital to 200 bedded ward and start the process of making it a Hill Medical College under the leadership of Hon’ble Medical Minister.[9]

On 23 February 2016, the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre Team visited the District Hospital, Churachandpur. After that, the Centre team approved to open DTC (Drug Treatment Clinic).

The hospital implements Janani/Suraksa Yogana and Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram under National Health Mission.

The Gross Domestic Product(GDP) and Per Capita Income(PCI) are still low due to dominant agriculture and traditional economic activities. However there is huge changes in recent times. Micro, small and medium enterprises slowly penetrate the main business town since the past decades mainly due to better road connectivity and entrepreneurial spirit of the community.

In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Churachandpur one of the country's most impoverished districts (out of a total of 640).[10] It is one of the three districts in Manipur currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF).[10]

Reputed financial institutions has its presence in the district. State Bank of India (SBI), United Bank of India (UBI), Canara Bank, Vijaya Bank, Axis Bank, UCO Bank, Manipur Rural Bank, Co-operative Bank, Central Bank of India and ICICI set up their branches at various locations. SBI with its four branches within the district is the largest bank with the maximum footfall.

The location is north of Tropic of Cancer in northern hemisphere, it has summer season in March, April and May with warm, hot and sunny weather. Rainy season starts April and last till October. The winter season is cool and dry.

Jhuming cultivation is predominant in most part of the district. Rice is the most popular crop produced and consumed by the local community.

Major towns of the district are connected by roads. National Highway(NH) 2 and NH 102B passes through the district headquarter, major towns and villages. The district is connected with Imphal by Tedim road (National Highway 2). Tedim road was expanded as part of the British war efforts to connect Imphal with the Burmese town of Tedim during World War II. Tipaimukh road that connects the district headquarters with Mizoram state is also one important road in the district. Another important road that connects Lamka with Mizoram is the Guite road.

The major private television channels/cables are Angels Vision Digital Cable, Hornbill Cable Network, TC Network and Tullou TV.

Manipur Express and Lamka Post are Churachandpur's largest daily newspapers.

Administration is carried out by the Deputy Commissioners or District Magistrates with support of the District level officer and Block Development officers. The district collector office is located at Tuibuang/Tuibuong.

The administrative setup of Churachandpur District.[12]

1. Sub Divisions & Blocks
2. Autonomous District Councils
3. Towns
4. Police Stations
5. Assembly Constituencies

Local communities are deeply rooted in their traditional culture. The influence of modern culture can also be observed among the people.

Football is the most popular sports in Churachandpur. It has several football clubs playing at district and state level leagues. Ganggam Soccer Club (GSC), United Khozim Brothers (UKB), Lamka Sporting Club (LSC), New Lamka Youth Club (NLYC), Kholmun youth club, Zenhang Lamka Youth Club (ZLYC), Lenlai Club, Zomi Football Club (ZFC), Rengkai Athletic and Cultural Club (RACC) and Bungmual Youth Club (BYC) are some of the clubs. Lamka Public Ground, Tuibong Peace Ground, Rengkai field, Bungmual field and PZT Stadium are football ground that host football matches. Apart from the First, Second and Third division league of the district several tournaments are held every year. Most prominent of them are the (L) Seikam Memorial football tournament and Raja Gokhothang memorial football tournament.

Traditional music and instruments like Khuang/Khuong (traditional instrument) are popular in social gatherings. Khuang/Khuong is also used in Churches.

1. The history and land-holding behind Manipur South District with Special Reference to the Haokip Reserved Land- 1907, T.S Letkhosei Haokip (Manipur University).
2. Chinkhopau (1995) Churachandpur District, Churachandpur: Published by Author.
3. District Statistical Handbook – Churachandpur: District Statistical Officer.
4. Gangte, Thangzam (undated) Churachandpur Chanchin (An Account of Churachandpur)
5. Ginsum, H (undated) Lamka Vangkhua (Lamka Town).
6. Kamkhenthang, Dr. H (1995) "Lamka Town vis-a-vis Churachandpur", Shan (daily), 21 December.
7. Kamkhenthang (1998) "Lamka (Churachandpur)" in B.D. Ray, A.K. Neog & H.K. Mazhari (eds.) Urban Development in North-East India : Potentiality and Problems, New Delhi: Vedams Books.
8. Manipur State Archives, Imphal: Manipur State Durbar 1907–1947 – Papers related to the Court of the President of Manipur State Durbar, Hill Misc. Case No. 28 of 1945–46, Phungkhothang Chief of Hiangtam Lamka; also Misc Case No. 504 of 1934 Phungkhothang Chief of Hiangtam Lamka.

• Churachandpur District Administration
• Churachandpur Autonomous District Council