Misplaced priority : Redefining governance

Th Hauminlal Gangte *

A look inside the Assembly Building at Chingmeirong, Imphal :: Pix - Danial Chabungbam

Making a (charged) diatribe on the Government than any other things in a volatile State like us is always safe, as the matter is taken as a non issue, that hardly concerned our elected representatives; or to say the reply hardly comes in terms of any physical threat. This is the beauty of democracy in practice. However, it’s sometimes weird and irrational to always put the blame on the Government for its lukewarm attitude on umpteen issues, but a deeper analysis on the matter totally spells another stories as a democratic form of Government like us has a greater involvement of the people.

We the people are stake holders as much as them, and share equal responsibility in maintaining the smooth functioning of the Government of the day. A strict compartmentalisation of people on the one hand and Government on the other can hardly be done. It will be interesting to know, if any opinion poll is ever done on the level of satisfaction of the working of elected Government so far on the matter of social welfare since the first ever election was held in Manipur in 1949 under Manipur State election rules and the subsequent election held till date. Democracy, one of the most vibrant forms of Government has been adopted to govern us, either by choice or by external imposition. Thanks to the norms, it is for us to decide now, how far we gain or loss from the practice, as it is accepted to be the best system of Government in the world so far.

The absence of economic vision of any Government worth its salt to lay the path of economic sustenance is another lamentable issue. A question that many of us are not much enthusiastic to pose or a question that never bother any government. It will also be interesting to know that, we the people while exercising our franchise, on what ground really did we decide our voting, is it a performance based or something personal gain? At this point of time how many of us may say that the legislative members we have at the House serve us better or who is the best to represent us without any scepticism.

A discourse on it is hardly done, the lesser we are concerned the lighter they take on their duties. A performance audit in the form of one thing or other is extremely necessary. It may sound illogical to state that we are not well verse to the system, after practising it for many decades. The system of Government we have demands that our duty does not culminate right after voting, to get the best out of their duties, we need also to monitor their functioning.

For a long period in the history of Manipur, major ethnic groups settled within the geographical boundary of the State with separate dominant regions, and when democracy was introduced on us, we hardly had any cross voting. An individual was rather elected on specific ethnic or regional need. We seldom have common interest. The irony here is, when we see their role within a limited confinement, the larger role for overall welfare of the people remain void, and their accountability unquestioned. One unwanted norm we have here is anything and everything is seen in the prism of ethnic interest. The imbalance in economic development from one part of the State to another is no doubt undeniable. But interpreting everything on the communal line would be gross miscalculation and will not serve in the larger interest of all round development.

The trend for sectional lobby is still very much prevalent, though many bandhs and dharnas are held on many occasions to register our protest against the Government, on sectional interest, a common voice is conspicuous by its absence to keep the Government on check on the overall welfare scheme. Emphasis of ethnic interest over all round economic development and opportunity for better social mobilization for each individual is a misplaced priority. Unless we take immediate corrective measure, problem of higher complication lies ahead us.

Coming to the role of the Government, it’s painful to note how the Government has rooted to its subjects, at other point of time. There are several instance in which the non-state actors have the final call on many issues and when the intervention of the Government matter much, it chooses to remain silent.

The inaction of the Government paves the way for many anti-social elements to sprout. The silence and non intervention policy of the Government is unhealthy democratic norms and very pathetic, having already at the hot seat, we need no reminder of their outline duty. Indeed it will be a herculean task to maintain a clean sheet administration in abysmal State like ours, however with a good permutation and combination, the probability of which is very much higher and relevant to a determined Government. This is the Govt’s bounden duty. On account of the failure of the government on many fronts; the common man has to suffer untold miseries. The sorry state of affairs continues to go on, and at the end of the day, it is the people who are at the receiving end of the indifferent attitude of the Government.

Among many other things, few tips we would like to suggest for the Government to endorse for welfare measure of its subject are; prioritising maintenance of the law and order, revamping education system, improved and building more infrastructures, innovation and encouraging farmers of the State and introduction of proper policy framework for medium and long term fiscal policy.

If States like Bihar, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha et al could script a development trajectory for them, why not us. We have Chief Minister who is running his third term, a record in the history of Manipur. Let not the tenure be counted on its duration/longevity, let the duration be converted into social and economic development of the people, let the people oriented work be a legacy for the coming generations to inherit.

The Government or the elected representatives should not forget that their position and power are all from the public.

Zipping around with dozen security guards and attending social functions as VIP at the cost of public money are what they are not meant for. To look after the welfare, and remain answerable to any event that befalls the people is what they are for.

It is the turn of the Government now to shift its focus on prioritising pro-people policy, beyond the welfare of the sycophants who revolved around them, the contractors and the higher hierarchy of bureaucrats in the State.

It is a high time to redefine its governance system and create an opportunity available to all sections of the society, and set atmosphere conducive for many meritocratic to raise and prosper, irrespective of colour, race and ethnicity.