Coming of a new Chief Secretary : Looking at the tasks ahead
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: October 02 2015 -

O Nabakishore :: Pix - TSE

This is not a change of the Government. Yet The Sangai Express deems it fit to comment on the latest change of guard in the officialdom of Manipur.

O Nabakishore is today the new Chief Secretary, following the superannuation of former Chief Secretary PC Lawmkunga.

Why should the retirement of a Government official and the induction of a new one be accorded so much importance that it merits a comment in this column, is a question that may well be raised.

No particular reason, but it is not often that a local man, born and bred in Manipur gets the chance to occupy the post of the Chief Secretary in the State.

In many ways the induction of O Nabakishore as the Chief Secretary of Manipur may also be seen as the reflection of the local people managing to climb through the officialdom of the country.

Not that Nabakishore is the first man from Manipur to occupy such a post as there have been others before him who too went on to occupy important positions in the Government hierarchy.

Manipur has had the late W Shaiza serving as the Chief Secretary of Delhi and Goa, the late Jelshyam as the Chief Secretary of Manipur, K Himalay and LN Singh as Lt Generals in the Indian Army, RK Phalguni as a prominent official of the North Eastern Council (Retd), former DGP of Manipur Y Joykumar, late Major Bob Khathing, who served as an Ambassador of India among others.

There are others too waiting in the wings to occupy positions of eminence in the Government hierarchy and all these personalities have managed to underline the point that the people of Manipur have it in them to rise through the hierarchy.

There are others too, such as engineers, doctors, professors, lecturers and in other fields who have managed to beat the odds and rub shoulders with the best in the country.

O Nabakishore has come at that point of time when Manipur is passing through a very critical phase.

As things stand today, the hills are in turmoil and demands have been raised to arrange a separate administrative set up for the tribals.

It is still not clear which way the frame work agreement inked between the NSCN (IM) and the Government of India will proceed but these are uncertain times and the new Chief Secretary can certainly expect some stormy days ahead.

Not that he will be solely responsible, for there is the political class but a lot will depend on how he manages to influence the thought patterns of the political babus.

Not an easy task, but the way ahead is certainly not going to be a rosy ride. Other than the pressing issues, it would also do the new Chief Secretary good if he can apply his mind on the state of education in the State.

More than right for him to question why he himself felt the need to go outside Manipur to pursue his higher education.

It is not the Government alone which must be held responsible for the decay one sees around the state of education but as the top officer in the State, it will certainly help if he can take a serious look at this.

Corruption is another issue that needs serious thoughts.

Nabakishore has just started his tenure as the Chief Secretary of the State and it is only right that he surrounds himself with the right people who can contribute their thoughts and ideas.