Land on the lock

Romio Khangemba *

Imphal Valley as seen from Langol hill range in November 2013 :: Pix - Jinendra Maibam

Every place on earth has different characteristics so as Manipur; it bears a pictorial impression on the world map, majestically surrounded by greenery, in the shape of lotus surrounded by hills and mountains, giving out her natural scent. That's my Manipur, our mother Manipur.

What is Manipur:
o The land of Loktak lake, the only fresh water lake in entire NE region of India.
o The birth place of Polo an indigenous game known as Sagol Kangjei.
o Home to the world famous blow-antler deer locally known as the Sangai.
o Ema Keithel; a market place run by the woman folk community, indeed unique in the world.
o And native to the Gwangju & Rabindranath Tagore awardee and human right crusader Irom Sharmila.
o Caring Lap to Olympian Mary Kom.

Manipur lies in a plain valley, which is geographically surrounded by 9 hills in south East Asia with the Himalayan Plateau in the northeast.

Off late, the essence of the land of happiness and serenity is marred by endless tragedies, which made it, a land of grave shortage and difficulties. Once lamented by our progenitor, "Life of limited means, where one means is exhausted to the core by outnumbered hungers, and the span of development becomes far dream, living in single meal philosophy, oh Manipur! I fear your progress will bring an end result of dirt."

To become a super powered state, it takes historic struggles and fight for justice. History has the evidence. "An advanced community makes a progressive district, prosperous districts make a healthy state, and growing states make a powerful nation". This recollection of socially accepted theory just made me sidelined to feel guilty.

In this connection, there is always a need of few indispensable factors for a state to develop:
o Electricity
o Road Connectivity
o Education

The position and role of these necessary factors in Manipur can be asked randomly to any face of Manipur, vivid answer will pop out without any calculation. It cannot be declined that the lawmaker of the land can bring dramatic changes in the form of self-satisfied economy, if proper implementations of feasible productive asset scheme program are carried out under the 5th year program.

Why the state is still seems to be in the Renaissance period, what is the alibi? Should they say, "we have limited numbers of resources to stimulate investment of whatever kind". The response to the question is in queue, waiting to be picked and practiced.

Manipur has so many productive assets: Tourism, Handloom, handicraft, Forestry, Fishery, sericulture, agriculture, horticulture, medicinal plant cultivation and agro industry.

Starting from top bureaucrats, center to state, knew it very well that the biggest reason of growing unlawful activities is due to unemployment.

Our decision maker should figure out a productive means where the large number of frustrated educated people can be given secured jobs to survive. That's how we could see a healthy society.

News reports of Japanese organizations showing interest in the Tassar silk of Manipur every now and then, surfaces the high quality of silk product that we have in Manipur, However, life is of no meaning if it does not breathe! The discriminated perception of job by the people in the state is unfortunate, where the govt. offered jobs are considered to be dream jobs, irrespective of its impact on society. For an individual, being unemployed in an independent country is like living a hanging life waiting to be hanged.

Road connectivity of Manipur to neighboring states has not been changed since 1947, the very documented tarred roads are entirely found on papers and not on the road.

Does it require reminding the representatives of the present government that both the lifelines of the State, namely, National Highway no 39 & 53 are unfit for use. No wrong in reminding them since they don't use these ways to reach other states, as cozy flights come under their affordability.

A folk tale can be recalled here, where the soul of the demon lies in the parrot. Manipur live and survive through these highways, from cooking oil to petroleum products and from Crocin to life saving drugs like���.. are brought into through both the ways. The people of Manipur are always under the threat of various ethnic problems. The people of Manipur cannot and will never forget the inhuman "100 days economic blockade". Wherein, at 430 rupees cost gas cylinders were sold in 2000 to 2500 and a liter of petrol was sold at 120 rupees. The extremeness of the call was the huge shortage of life-saving oxygen gas.

Once upon a time, there were competitions to get into govt. Schools, now, except the financially backward students, the majority looks for corporate schools. Education, being the driving force for a Society to shine, the focus should be on improving govt. schools. Manipur is a land completely in the lock of disturbed neighboring states, the state can be summed up as the public yard, where the states have the accesses, but limited to its own.

As discussed, due to the existing law and order situation, connectivity system and power shortage. Internal and foreign investment in this man-made Lockland becomes next to possible dream. Crux of being a conflict zone can be resolved, if a few of the said issues are addressed forehand, as sailing of the "dream boat", the dream dreamt by our ancestor has a wave of welcoming hands, waiting for a dream boat and a sailor to sail to the land of promises.