There is already a constitutional breakdown in local governance – ATRPFM

11th November 2018:

Letter to the Editor
There is already a constitutional breakdown in local governance – ATRPFM

A democratic government is by the people and for the people but where are the voices of the people gone? The genuine voices of the people shall be heard by the government of the people. ATRPFM has been demanding for conduct of election of ADC Chairman in respect of Churachandpur, but our peaceful voices were not heard. Are we demanding something not constitutional? Have we shown any personal or political bias in favour or against any political party or individual? We can proudly say that we don’t.

We are purely a civil organisation for proper implementation and protection of the tribal rights. The Hon’ble Governor has written to the concerned Department for conduct of election at the earliest. The Hon’ble High Court of Manipur has also passed an order with a direction to conduct the election on 5th November, 2018 without fail of which the State Government ought to comply with in larger interest of the public and also for the ends of justice.

Instead, the State Government has filed an appeal against the order, but on what ground? Where is the rule of law? Any election has to be conducted within a reasonable time, it could not hold on indefinitely. It is a constitutional breakdown and a very negative sign of governance.

Tribal people have been demanding election of ADC Chairman, Churachandpur, the elected members have been also demanding the same for the last more than four months. But the State Government under the leadership of Shri. N. Biren is reluctant to conduct the same.

What’s the intention behind? Is it not a political bias, a political game at the cost of thousands of tribal populace? It clearly indicates that governance under the present Government has absolutely failed as far as local governance in hill districts are concerned.

No ADC has secured proper functioning under the present Government, there are numbers of court cases, and also camping for chairman posts. Tamenglong, Senapati, Chandel, Churachandpur - all ADCs face court cases and camping for Chairman posts. Are ADCs for the development of hill people or for personal political game? What types of Governance is this? What types of leadership is this? Governance has failed, ADCs have failed, constitutional breakdown already there.

It is indeed a very shameful thing on the part of the State Government under the leadership of Shri, N. Biren Singh that a particular ADC who had switch his party from Congress to BJP with a hope that BJP would do something more than his own party has returned to his parent party. As the BJP has failed in all respects in functioning of ADCs, Shri. Ngamhao Touthang, an ADC member elected from 14-Tuibong DCC, Churachandpur has tendered his resignation from the BJP and has ultimately returned to the Congress Party.

It is not a sign of good governance at all we are deeply concerned about hampering the functioning ADCs under the present Government. He resigned from BJP primarily for failure of conduct of election for Chairman of Churachandpur.

We support Shri. N. Biren led BJP government, we are supporting till date and we wanted to continue to support it. We have faith in BJP government but as of now we are deeply disappointed seeing all the negative developments.

We have been also demanding for implementation of Pension Scheme for Employees of ADCs but there is no positive response till date although rules for extending penionery penefits were already framed, re-framed and amended by the State Government itself. It is the government that framed the pension rules, how can the government question its own laws or rules?

We strongly urged the State Government to conduct election of ADC Chairman, Churachandpur at the earliest and we also demanded that pension scheme for employments of ADCs shall be implemented as mandated under relevant rules framed by the State Government which is clearly reflected in the State Budget from 2017-17 to 2018-19.

We request government not to invite agitations, not to create law and order problems, and not to create constitutional breakdown. They talk peaceful co-existence between hills and plain, integrity, go to village, hill people’s day, communal harmony and equal developmental, we appreciate that but their action shows otherwise which is shameful and blatant lie.

Peace can’t be force feed, it can only happen when the constitutional rights of the minorities and weaker section of the society are protected and respected.

If the State Government fail to fulfill our demands and act in accordance with laws and practices, we will submit all the negatives side of the State Government against the tribal people in the upcoming International Samvaad-Tribal Conclave from 15-19 November which is to be held at Jamshedpur, Jharkhand where 10 countries are participating.

Our team would leave Manipur for Jamshedpur on 14th November, 2018 for participating at the proposed Tribal Conclave so that our voices are reached to the Union Government and any eventualities would be that of the State Government.

Yours
Jaojianlung Gangmei),
Info & Pub. Secy, ATRPFM