Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 24 2010:
While demanding the Government to implement Anti-Corruption Act in the State fully, Senior Citizens for Society has called upon the people to stand united against any form of corrupt practices.
Addressing a press conference in this connection at Manipur Press Club here today, general secretary of the Society Prof Sadananda said that the malaise of corruption has spread far and wide in Manipur today and it has become so deep rooted that everyone, starting from common man in the street to the top Government officials, is practising it and the developmental activities of the State has taken a back seat.
In order to prevent this deep rooted malaise from further spread and reduce chances of corruption, the Government should ensure implementation of Anti-Corruption Act, 1988 fully in the State, he demanded, adding that public should also set up Anti-Corruption Struggle Committees to fight against this corruption.
He also appealed to the people to make use of Right to Information Act so as to understand how far the developmental activities of the Government are being implemented genuinely.
On the existing education system, Prof Sadananda asserted that it is not value based and the system has not been able to ensure complete development of an individual in the society.
Co-ordinator of Senior Citizens for Society M Nara, who was also present during the press conference, said that there is the need to reform the existing system of conducting election in the country as a means of preventing corruption.
In this connection, a convention on the 'campaign for electoral reforms in India' for the Northeastern States would be hosted at Imphal from October 30 to 31 with the main objective of educating the people on issues related to electoral reforms.
Society secretary Khaidem Mani said that the since 2008, the Society has been campaigning against corruption by way or organising symposium, painting competition, essay writing competition, etc.
In continuation of its campaign, the Society would be organising a day-long discussion session on 'AFSPA', which he said is one of the root causes of corruption, on September 11 .
Vice president of the Society Laishram Lalit observed Manipur would have been a developed State by now if the fund sanctioned by the Government of India for developmental activities have been utilised properly.
Unfortunately, all these developmental fund have been fallen into the private pockets of the politicians and officers.