Democracy, Govt, Power and Liberty
- Where are we ? -

Amar Yumnam *

The functioning of the various departments of the government of Manipur and the various consequential pressures the general public have been put to really make one wonder on the very nature of democracy in this land of jewels.

The various departments relating to the construction related activities have shown no awareness of the environmental concerns threatening the globe and the local; environment is such one concern where the globe converges with the local and vice versa.

A They have had no hesitation in cutting down trees, and thereby killing history, culture besides the environment. They have so far not shown any capability and willingness to incorporate environmental concerns into their designs of works, execution of works and completion of works. What a tragedy for the people of the land!!

Unfortunately this tragedy is further aggravated by the functioning of the very department of the government solely concerned with the protection of forests, enhance the quality of environment and overall instil an awareness of environmental issues across to all. But this department has yet to show any symptom of such a commitment. Further, the department does not seem to have asserted her legal powers, moral responsibility and functional requirements to protect the quality of environment.

The above weakness gets repeated by the department concerned with the reduction of pollution levels of different kinds. Well the examples would be unending.

Now That: Now that these weaknesses have become features characterising a cross section of the various departments compel us to have a rethink of the nature of the state as manifested in the functioning of the government of the land.

In this process, we are necessarily drawn to the role the state had played in the early developmental process of the now developed countries, irrespective of the financial crisis the US economy is facing today. In these countries, the state did help in the accumulation process of the land. It did create incentives for people to function and perform for greater accumulation.

In these societies, there did emerge a synergy between the state and the people. This helped in strengthening the democratic base of the societies for the creation of wealth in such societies was based on the capacity for additional production rather than the possession of political power; there was no direct relation between power and wealth.

We need to look at what had happened in this land of jewels as contrasted to the experiences of the developed countries in their various stages of evolution. The very functioning of the state in this land has been mainly towards creating a clientele for the government.

The government has had no orientation for enhancing the productive capability of the land and people, but has all along been preoccupied with the objective of building a clientele base for mutual continuation. This has developed a kind of situation in the land where creation of wealth has relationship only with power, instead of productive capacity.

This has resulted in two very sinister results. Over time the government has become synonymous with wealth enrichments. This naturally led the people look for, at whatever cost, for some avenues for contact with the government. Well, this is a very congenial atmosphere for all types of rent-seeking (read corruption) to flourish.

Now it is equally interesting to observe the functioning of the other side as well. Since closeness to all for wealth enrichment cannot the ensured by the government, the other groups started looking for opportunities to somehow wield power. This is a very natural process for human beings have always longed for a better well-being throughout history and space.

The Ineffectiveness: Given the above background, we can very easily appreciate why the various departments of the government of this land have failed to deliver in all their own assigned roles and responsibilities. It is imaginable as well as possible that there could be some heads leading a department or so with zeal and commitment.

But this would not make a difference because, in an atmosphere where the government thrives and survives only through creation of a clientele, it does not pay to be an effective performer in any department. The guiding principle necessarily has to be compromise at every stage and in every functioning.

Well we do not have a government department which delivers rightly, timely and appropriately. Any surprise?