PCRM celebrates 10th foundation anniversary
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, October 18 2021: People's Campaign for Resurgent Manipur (PCRM) celebrated its 10th foundation day on Monday on the theme "Meeyamgi Leingak, Miyamgi Thoudang; Eikhoi Houjik Kari Tougaani?" According to a PCRM release, IAS (Retd) Dr RK Nimai presided over the function held with Manipur Human Rights Commissions acting chairperson Khaidem Mani as chief guest and IRAP editor Pradip Phanjoubam and HRA director Babloo Loitongbam as guests of honour.

PCRM is a group of citizens of and from Manipur who are concerned with the prevailing state of affairs in Manipur and seeks to bring change towards a new and better Manipur, it stated.

Correspondingly, the campaign seeks to cultivate a culture of dialogue and debates in order to generate informed opinions and choices on public issues and make the political dass, public institutions and leaders accountable to the citizens as individuals and as a collective.

In pursuance of the above aims, PCRM encourages involvement of private citizens in monitoring the functioning of public offices and institutions as well as the ways in which public officials and elected representatives of the people respond to or address the issues of public importance, it explained.

In his speech, Khaidem Mani said the citizens are responsible for the sad state of affairs in Manipur.

He said that in democracy, election is a crucial issue of exercising human rights.

There is a need to move for electoral reform, especially the present system of "first past the post".

He further highlighted the importance of Election Manifesto of political parties and need to monitor malpractices during the elections, it stated.

Speaking on the occasion, Pradip Phanjoubam reminded the gathering that there is a need to shape critical thinking and healthy public sphere.

He said it is time to act, and there is no option but to act.

Babloo Loitongbam also reminded the gathering on the need to co-ordinate amongst civil society groups in order to make institutions accountable while Dr RK Nimai expressed that "what is to be done" is a tough question.

He said that the system may be good but it's the people who would make it function.

There is a lack of ethical value, not only in Manipur but also in the country, he said.

While regretting lack of intellectual engagement in an informed manner, he said that there is a tendency to abuse people rather than engaging with people's views.

"We also have a tendency to justify mistakes rather than acknowledging it and seeking to correct the same", he said and emphasised the need to monitor the financial aspect in election.

Earlier, Committee of Conveners member Dr A Bimol Akoijam narrated the activities of PCRM during the last ten years and also informed that PCRM shall produce a Policy Document listing issues of public impertance for wider circulation and public deliberation.

This shall be followed by a "Citizens' Charter" listing public issues and policy matters which must be addressed by the legislators in the coming hve years, added the release.

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