Corruption eating into the core of Settlement
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, July 27 2013 : With not a single file allowed to move without being paid or bribed, the Settlement office has become one of the most corrupted departments under the Government of Manipur.

According to reports reaching Hueiyen Lanpao, the Settlement office is concerned with the measurement of land area, altering boundaries and keeping land records of the State Government.

However, such an important department of the State Government has suffered serious setbacks as the employees of the department have come down to the level of not just taking, but asking bribes from the public, as if it is their birth right, to getting any work done.

Without being paid, none of the files brought to the office are processed.

It is only when the palms of the staffs concerned are greased that the files could be expected to move and reach its destination, the reports said, adding that this trend has been going on for the last many years.

Reports further said that the near and dear ones of the high officials of the department also have to pay bribes to the officials of the department to speed up their file process and the officials also readily accept anything given without any hesitation.

The concerned authority of the State Government needs to look into this trend and bring about a change in the Settlement Officer for the better.

The present trend, though seems to cause any harm to people from well to do families, certainly it has given a big blow to poor people who do not have money to bribe the concerned officials of the department.

These poor people have to, at times, borrow money from others and pay them to the officials just to get their rightful job done, reports said.

The most saddening part is that the Intelligence agencies of the State Government is also remaining silent over the scenario prevailing in the Settlement Department and has failed to report the matter to the concerned authorities of the State Government.

As such, it seems the State Government too has given a free hand to indulge in corrupt practices among the officials and staffs of the department, reports noted.

This trend does not exist only in the Settlement department but can also be seen widely in many of the Government departments and the general public remains the sole sufferers, reports added.

Comment