A bolt from the blue
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: April 22 2015 -
In normal circumstances the ICAR should have taken the Manipur government into confidence before the fluid samples of the chickens which died on April 6 were sent to Bhopal for testing.
Though a central government undertaking it does not get carte blanche or can act independently when the issue concerns the life and death of the people.
However, definitely the involvement of the state government would have caused inordinate delay in the urgent public health matter since the officials would insist on rigmaroles galore.
It is good that the status of bird flu in Manipur was established. But the follow up government actions are much below the mark.
Momentous official decisions were taken to combat the threat to human lives.
But for unexplained reasons the information commissioner was left out despite the fact that the government should have made a publicity blitzkrieg since the issue concerns the human life.
People should have been warned of the serious threats using loud speakers soon after the high official meeting. So far this is not done.
No leaflet is distributed in Imphal and those areas where newspapers are not readily available.
Perhaps the chief secretary had lost all confidence in the competency and effectiveness of the information office in Manipur.
Under the circumstances, the reporters had to run from pillar to post to get copies of the relevant government orders and notifications since there was no system to make these available to the press by the information office.
Honestly we do not blame the chief secretary and others.
What can be expected of the information office which is issuing hard-to-read hand written press releases for some selected newspapers in this 21st century.
At this computer age such Government press matters should have been released through internet since all newspapers and correspondents of outside papers have email accounts.
And this system is in vogue elsewhere right from Nagaland.
Being the minister concerned Okram Ibobi ought to look into the sorry situation in the information office where officials who had fallen from grace are usually sent since these are regarded as punishment postings.
A handful of officials should not be allowed to play with the serious issue like bird flu.
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