Agenda of the BJP led Government in Manipur
- Part 5 -

Dr. Khomdon Lisam *

11. Decision dated 25 March, 2017 taken by the State Cabinet for establishment of Anti-Corruption Cell at the office of the Chief Minister to receive complains of corruption and submit suggestions for further course of action to a committee comparing of two senior most additional chief secretaries, the Administrative Secretaries /DP. The Cell will be manned by one MCS and one MPS officer.

On 18 May, 2017, Modiji said "this is a government that has zero tolerance on corruption. There are no scams in these three years of NDA government". Our Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister may be enthusiastic to abolish corruption. It should be a collective and joint efforts of all departments, all government functionaries and the people.

12. On 15 May,2017, the Chief Minister declared sanction of Rs. Five crores for the State Level Shirui Lily Festival

13. On 26 April 2017, the Chief Minister declared that every 15th day of the month will be the "Peoples' Day" (Meeyamg Numit)" when any person can meet the Chief Minister for any grievance from 10AM-4PM. In addition, all the Ministers, Administrative Secretaries, DCs, SDOs and HODs etc. will also meet the general public at the same time in their respective offices. With this single decision, the people see hopes for a brighter Manipur and the love and confidence of the people in Shri N. Biren is increasing day by day.

14. On 26 April 2017, the Chief Minister declared that every 10th day of the month will be the "Hill Peoples Day "when any hill representative will be allowed to meet CM from 10AM-4PM.

15. On 30 April, 2017, Narendra Modi announced End of VIP culture- beginning of EPI culture. He said "When I say EPI instead of VIP, the meaning is clear -- Every Person is Important. Every person has value and importance. If we recognise the importance of 123 crore citizens of the country, imagine the big strength that the country will have in fulfilling the grand dreams. The Manipur Government also implement the decision to End of VIP culture-ban on use of red beacon on the vehicles of Manipur Legislators and Senior Police Officers except emergency ambulances.

16. Declaration of economic package of Rs 202 crore for Senapati district on 22 May, 2017 to take up developmental work. This may be in addition to regular budget of the district.

17. Declaration of Barak Spring Festival at the State Festival from next edition taking note of the effort taken up the Naga People Organisation to preserve and save Barak River from further degradation. Here one word of caution is that the State Government should concentrate more on the work to save the Barak River and less on the Barak festival.

Suggestions for ensuring effective implementation of the actions on abolition of corruption

1. Abolition of corruption in Manipur under the BJP Government

In Manipur, corruption has become respectable because so many repectable people are involved . We have to give bribe everywhere -The Manipur Secretariat, DC Office, Income Tax and Sale Tax Office , Civil Supplies, Public Works Department, Electricity or any other department or Police including traffic police and almost everywhere to get the work done in time otherwise the file does not move. Perhaps, Insurgency and demands for money from the Government departments was a driving force for corruption in Manipur during the last 20 years or so.

We have to give bribe for getting jobs, for getting posted in the valley, for not getting posted in the hills , for getting timely increment, for withdrawing G.P fund or medical reimbursement etc. There is open adulteration of petrol, diesel and food products . Petrol, Kerosene, LPG are sold openly on road side adjacent to the Petrol pump in black market.

There is cheating in supplying LPG cylinders and black market has become a respectable term. There is cheating in the weighing of food products and even bribery in the selection of Awards . The rules and procedures of contract work are often not followed .

The Ministers and MLAs become contractors. Anybody on the street can quote the price tag for the post of a SI, ASI , Constable in the police, Clerks , Nurses etc. in the Government Department or RIMS. Almost every Government servant has to pay bribe for posting in the valley. It is said that the market price of one SI is Rs. 15-25 lakhs , for one ASI, it is 7-10 lakhs and for one Constable, a clerk 5-7 lakhs or a Nurse, it is 13-15 lakhs depending on the political connection.

Nowadays, people are talking of direct appointment of one Asstt Professor in RIMS by giving Rs. 80 lakhs. This may be main reason for posting of Adya Prasad Pandey as Vice Chancellor of the Manipur University and Mr. R.K, Dinesh as the Director, RIMS.

The initiative of Shri Biren Singh to end corruption and establishment of an Anti-Corrption Cell is very good beginning. I may be allowed to suggest some simple steps to minimise the corruption in Manipur.

1. First of all, the Hon'ble Chief Minister, Manipur may kindly make an open and bold declaration that his government is fully committed to root out corruption (Zero Tolerance ) at all levels and in all forms . The State government may declare the Policy and Strategies for abolition of corruption in black and white

2. The Hon'ble Chief Minister, Manipur may kindly make sure for Declaration of All Assets of all the Ministers, MLAs, the Chief secretary, all IAS officers, all MCS officers, all heads of departments and their family members, PS and Ex-PS of Ministers within 15 days of issue of order. Questions may be asked "how a poor PS of a minister can contest election spending crores of rupees ?".

This may require investigation. Any possession of wealth and properties disproportionate with the known sources of income should be investigated and if found guilty they should be sent to jail. In some countries, public officials have been executed or may face death penalty for corruption and other related crimes like bribery. In 2011, China sentenced to capital punishment Xu Maiyong, former vice mayor of Hangzhou City, and Jiang Renjie, vice mayor of Suzhou City. The officials were found guilty of corruption (bribery) amounting to $50 million. The former chief of the state's food and drug administration was likewise found guilty of accepting bribes, and met the same fate in 2007.

North Korea also reportedly put to death General Pyon In Son, ex-chief of operations in the Korean People's Army. South Korean sources said he was executed in 2015, two months after he was fired from his position over "corruption and failure to follow orders." In 2015, around 50 officials were said to have been killed over charges ranging from corruption to "watching South Korean soap operas."

O Sang-hon, deputy minister for public security, and Chang Ung, a member of the International Olympic Committee, were killed in 2014 over corruption charges. In Iraq,General Ali Hassan al-Majid, who has been executed aged 68 for his "blatant corruption".

In Iran, thousands were said to have been executed since Hassan Rouhani became president in 2013 for offenses such as counterfeiting, smuggling, In Indonesia, some acts of corruption, which affect the finance or economy of the country in a big way, is punishable by death. Thailand executes a government official, democratic representative, judicial official, or prosecutor for demanding or accepting bribes Countrie like Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, Morocco also have capital punishment for bribery and corruption.

The suspension of one Havaldar or arrest of one clerk or constables is not news. But catching big fishes is definitely a news. The names of big fishes are in the mouth of the common people. The asset declaration has to be done every year. The Prime Minister's goal is "Zero Corruption".

3. Ban of Contract Work by the Ministers, MLAs, Bureaucrats.

4. Establishment of Staff Selection Board on the lines of the Manipur Public Service Commission (MPSC) for recruitment of Grade III and Grade-IV staff of all departments of the state Government.

3. Investigations into income tax returns of Ministers, MLAs, all IAS officers, all MCS officers, all heads of departments and their family members, PS and Ex-PS of Ministers.

5. Strict monitoring of the expenditure of the Local Area Development Fund of all MLAs, Minister and MPs.

6.Formation of Anti-Corruption Squad for every Election Polling Booth with the cooperation of all local clubs and Meira Paibee Lups to check distribution of money at the time of election after massive advertisements in all media about the evils of corruption at the time of election..

7. Empowering and strengthening of State Vigilance Department. They should be authorised to conduct raids the houses of the Ministers, MLAs, IAS officers, MCS officers, heads of departments with prior permission from the Chief Minister and the Speaker.

8. Political solution of the insurgent movement in Manipur.

9. Rigorous implementation of Anti-Corruption Laws like (1)IPC,1860 (2)Prevention of Corruption Act,1988 (3)Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (4)Right to Information Act,2005 (5)Central Vigilance Commission Act (6) Manipur Lok Ayukta Act-2003

10. Private practice by Government doctors in private hospitals. R.K. Dinesh has done it in RIMS. Why not the State Government do it.

11. Private tuition by Government School Teachers

12. Adoption of a State Policy that for all recruitment to the government jobs, preference will be given to candidates who passed Class X and XII from Manipur government schools

13. Adoption of a State Policy that no promotion to higher grade in the government department will be allowed for employees having more than two children.

To be continued....