Time for tough action
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: November 08 2011 -

How long will this state of affairs go on, is a recurring question which keeps popping up every now and then in the everyday conversations of individuals who happen to inhabit this land called Manipur, 'The Land of Jewels'.

The way things stand, far form being a 'The Land of Jewels' or the 'Switzerland of the East' many inhabitants must be asking - could there be a worse place on earth.

Every little thing, the most basic requirements of existence has become a luxury here.

Scarcity of drinking has become so common place that there is not a murmur against it now.

Right in the middle of the capital city, water comes after every three or four days, that too for a mere two or three hours and you can well imagine the condition a little beyond in remote areas.

Then the pathetic condition of power supply in the state, while people in other states find it abnormal if there is load shedding for half and hour or so in 24 hours, we start to seriously think something is amiss if there is continuous electricity supply for four or five hours in a day.

Then there are these potholed embellished state and national highways not to talk of inter village roads and lanes and by lanes crisscrossing the state. Of course every now and then these roads are 'repaired' only to come back to its original state, come the rainy season.

Driving down these roads is quite a nasty experience which we have to go through day in and day out, but there is no respite in sight. And even if proper black topped roads come up, that bliss of driving or walking down a smooth road is not going to last long, the way these roads are constructed, as our experience have borne out again and again.

And how can we avoid the dirt, the garbage piles, if we happened go around the Imphal city. We keep hearing of solid waste management plant , which is coming up shortly but that shortly has taken quite some time and by the time it becomes functional, the city itself might become a garbage dump.

The deprivations and the lack of basic facilities is much more acute in remote areas, making their day to day life that much more difficult.

Various centrally sponsored schemes and programmes have been implemented to alleviate the condition of the common people especially those in the rural and remote areas but there seem to be very little discernable difference on the ground.

This suggests flaws in their implementation, for one, and that on the other hand, the need for much more concerted efforts. All these are problems of living in Manipur in normal times.

Then there are the abnormal times like the one we are going through at the moment - times of long drawn out economic blockades. One has just ended and this other one which came about as a counter to the original one is still on.

Talking or writing about economic blockade brings with an overwhelming sense of déjà vu. What more can we say, what more can we add, the irrationality of it all, the suffering it entails, especially for the most vulnerable section of the society, the appeals to end this suffering and choose some other means of protest - we have been through it all so many times.

Manipur is at present, is at a precarious condition, petroleum products have dried up, the stocks of other essential items are depleting fast, in due course, medical supplies, oxygen for surgery etc will also run out if the condition continues for some more days.

In such a situation, the Chief Minister O Ibobi's assertion to keep at least one lifeline open, come what may, is a welcome sign.

We would like to see this assertion translated into action on the ground and bring in the much needed supplies. We would also like to see the centre extend all possible help to O Ibobi, in this endeavour.

Time the SPF government as the representative government of Manipur imposes its writ and does what it has been mandated to do by the people - look after their welfare.