Panel discussion exhorts NGOs
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 21 2014 : A panel discussion on 'good governance, conflict transformation and peace-building in Manipur: Issues and Perspective' held today at Manipur Press Club stressed on NGOs to come out from their narrow base and goals for engaging in informal dialogue, negotiation and mediation to resolve all outstanding issues besetting Manipur.

Organised by Manipur Political Science Association in collaboration with Centre for Manipur Studies (Manipur University) and NG College under the objective to analyse the causes, nature and action plan for good governance, check conflict and promote peace in the State, various speakers were unanimous that civil societies have a crucial role to play along with the intellectual class and mass media by redefining their respective concerns, goals, methods, relationship with the Government and with one another.

Accepting that in addition to political and ethnic problems, Manipur still has rooms for improvement in the economic, social, educational, health, legal and security aspects, the day-long discussion session emphasised on cordiality amongst the stake-holders to deal with existing problems, differences and conflicts to ensure harmony in the society.

New thinking, movement and cooperation are necessities to reverse the trend of Manipur being considered as a haven for social workers, contractors, medical practitioners and 'powerful beggars', voiced the speakers.

They also noted with regret that law making function/organ of the Government along with the law enforcing agencies seem to have disappeared while the judiciary seems to maintain low profile resulting in what looks like lawlessness and arbitrariness.

Moreover, dignitaries as well as resource persons were of the opinion that Government or public money is being perceived as the resource for private interests considered highly inappropriate in a State like Manipur wherein daily struggles are being neglected by the Government and civil society thus imperilling lives of the common people.

Inaugural function of the discussion was held with Dean of School of Social Sciences (MU) Prof E Bijoy Kumar Singh, Manipur Political Science Association president Dr H indrakumar Singh and Centre for Manipur Studies (MU) Prof N Joykumar Singh as the chief guest, functional president and guest of honour respectively.

As the resource persons, Associate Professor of School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University (New Delhi) Dr Bimol Akoijam talked on 'Concept of good governance in theoretical and comparative perspective'; All Manipur Bar Association president advocate Khaidem Mani elaborated on 'Good governance and conflict transformation'; Dr H Indrakumar on 'Civil society and peace building in Manipur: Perspectives on armed conflict Vs governance'; and former DGP IPS (Retd) Y Joykumar Singh on 'Government initiatives and constraints on good governance, conflict transformation and peace building' .

Former Dean of School of Social Sciences (MU) Prof N Mohendro Singh was the chairperson of the panel discussion.

Comment