Need for Good Governance
Colonel I S Chanam, Retd *
"Lack of good governance has been identified as the root cause of many of the serious deficiencies in society. It robs the citizenry of their security and their social and economic rights," said the President, Sri Pranab Mukherjee on 6 April 2013 during an award ceremony.
The President further pointed out that an alert police force and investigative agency can ensure that no crime goes unpunished.
On the backdrop of these comments of the President, where does the governance of our State stand ? To arrive at an answer, a few instances may be examined.
The wide roads in Imphal area, the magnificent Assembly building, High Court building and Ima Market are the milestones of good achievement of the govt. While on the other hand, certain happenings paint a picture of lack of good governance.
On 5th April 2013 the shocking news broke out about the murder of Satyabhama and the dead body having been left on a paddy field. Various organizations took up cudgels demanding action for arrest of the culprits. An indefinite strike was imposed by several organizations and the public, causing hardship to daily-wage earners.
Does it show the people do not trust that the police will take up necessary action on its own ? Or the people suspect the possibility of the culprits maneuvering/persuading the higher ups in the Govt machinery of law and order into burying the issue under a heap of dust ?
Yet another instance : The Sangai Express exposed on 5 April 2013 that rice collected from FCI godown , Dimapur intended for distribution to people in Manipur in subsidized rate, were sold at Dimapur bazaar at inflated rate earning big profits. It further expressed suspicion of involvement of influential and powerful people. The Govt has adequate intelligence agencies and the authorities concerned ought to know of it without The Sangai Express bringing it to its notice. Will the authorities still turn a blind eye to it even after The Sangai Express has exposed it ?
The sale of subsidized rice at Dimapur on big profits brings to focus the issue of non-availability of adequate number of domestic cooking gas cylinders, while it is available at double the rate in the black market. During blockades it is available at three times the rate.
Last year the Central Govt decided to permit availability of six cylinders only per family annually. The whole of India made a hue and cry except Manipur. Under pressure from the public as well as various political parties, the number was increased to nine per family per year
Will it be practical to expect nine cylinders per year at the prescribed rate from the gas agencies ? A survey of a few consumer cards of Thoubal Gas, Singjamei makes it doubtful. A random sample of a consumer card dependant on Thoubal Gas, Singjamei is tabulated below:-
The table shows this particular consumer received three cylinders in 2010, three cylinders in 2011 and two cylinders in 2012. If any consumer belonging to Thoubal Gas, Singjamei received more than five cylinders in each of the past three years, the undersigned will appreciate to share the information.
In the days to come, when the govt can declare with pride of ' good governance of the state' it is hoped that black market of petrol, black market of cooking gas , looting the poor of their subsidized rice and MNREGS money in Manipur will stop.
* Colonel I S Chanam, Retd wrote this article for The Sangai Express
The writer can be contacted at inouchanam(at)gmail(dot)com
This article was posted on April 24, 2013
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