Kakching


Kakching is a city and a municipal council in Thoubal district in the Indian state of Manipur. It is situated in the southeastern part of Manipur around 44 km. away in the south from the capital city Imphal of Manipur State. 90% of the inhabitants are Scheduled castes. 4% is OBC, 4% general people and remaining 2% is other minorities.

Geography


Kakching is located in the southern part of Imphal valley. It has an average elevation of 776 metres (2545 feet). The town is about 44 km from the capital of Manipur, Imphal, and about 70 km from the border of India with Mynmar.

Demographics


As of 2001 India census, Kakching had a population of 28,746. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Kakching has an average literacy rate of 66%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 74%, and female literacy is 58%. In Kakching, 14% of the population is under 6 years of age. In terms of population, development and education, Kakching is the second biggest town in Manipur next only to Imphal city.


Economy


The main occupation of the people of Kakching is cultivation and business.There are many self-help groups(SHGs)finance by the state government and central government.Its workers produce the highest percentage of food grains of Manipur, and hence it is known as the granary of Manipur. This shows that the inbitants are too industrious.


Education

Kakching has the highest literacy rate in the state of Manipur. It has colleges – Kha Manipur College, Kakching, (Government), and Kakching Girls College (Private). There are many Higher Secondary Schools, High Schools, and several Middle and Primary Schools.There are many private schools in and around the Kakching town namely The Padma Ratna English school, the Martin grammar school, Victory high School,the Kakching public school,Grace Cottage Academy etc.


Youths of Kakching go outside the state for studies after class X, mainly after class XII. The top reasons of this is the law and order problem riddling the state. Kakching is an import town for higher studies in Indian Classical Music under the Bhatkhande Hindusthani Sangeet Mahavidyalay, the only institution in Eastern India where Indian classical music is taught up to the highest levels (Nipun). hundreds of students come from Manipur every year for further studies.


Culture and Tourism

Culturally the town is very rich in many fields such as Nat Sankritan, Meitei pung cholom, Martial Arts, Thang-Ta, Satjal, Mukna, and Kangjei. Kakching Haraoba is most distinct and extraordinary style of methodological and philisophical background among the six Lai Haraoba of Manipur. The festival Lai-haraoba is in part a recollection of the creation stories played the deities with the first origin of this universe and evolution of the plants and animals through the will of Atiya Shidaba. The People's Museum preserved the traditional belongings of the ancestors and their houses have many ethnic and valuable items.


The municipality has three cinema halls that provide daily shows. Since the rapid increase of population, the occupation of Kakching people has changed towards business, government job other many trends from the main profession of cultivation. The language speaking in Kakching is slightly different from the main Manipuri language in terms of the tone and style.

Recently, an eco park theme has been developed to attract the incoming tourists from different parts of the state. The markets attract a variety of outsiders for their variety of products. Kaching Soibum (Bamboo shoot) is famous in the state for its delicious taste consuming as special curry. Recently, Kakching Garden was developed to attract the tourists by adding the cultural monuments, natural beauties. Now many people within and even outside the sate came to see the beautiful sight seeing of Kakching Garden at Uyok Ching, Kakching.


Politics


Kakching is part of Outer Manipur (Lok Sabha constituency).It elects one MLA in the state assembly. Shri Y. Surchandra Singh, Retd. IAS represents Kakching Assembly Constituency in the 9th assembly election of Manipur State.