Unrest situation affecting neutral regions
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: October 30, 2024 -

SENAPATI District Students' Association (SDSA) expressing concern over shortage of staff members in most of the government departments in the district as a consequence of the Kuki-Meetei conflict underscores adverse impact of the unrest situation even in non-conflict regions of the state.

As reported, volunteers of the students' body conducted surprise inspection on the basis of complaints that offices of various departments in Senapati district haven't been able to operate up to the people's satisfaction.

SDSA initiated the drive to ascertain veracity of complaints regarding erratic attendance by the staffers and to prevail upon authorities concerned to take remedial measures so that commoners do not encounter hardships and inconveniences in accessing government services and facilities.

With the salaried government workers in the state having the tendency to take their jobs for granted rather than acknowledging that the position he/she is holding is to serve the public, Manipur had been familiar with activists of students' organisations scrutinising functionality of major departments as and when irregularities and tardiness among the employees surface.

Among other findings, it is interesting to learn that many officers were found attending duty during the inspection visit by the SDSA team, thereby implying possibility of the absentee employees having connections at the top and do not dread scorn by the department officials, another common scenario in the state.

As such, SDSA needs to conduct similar inspection visits at frequent intervals and compile records of habitual absentee employees without which the problem of manpower shortage would remain unsolved.

Moreover, given the present unstable situation and unending tension between the two warring communities, it would be wishful thinking that Kuki and Meetei government employees would risk their lives for the sake of catering to needs of the public.

Another disturbing finding of the SDSA inspection team was that offices of some departments were found hacked on Monday, the first working day of the week.

As closure of such offices could not be entirely associated with the on-going conflict, it is likely that the neutral employees in collusion with the top officials are taking undue advantage of the situation and tending to personal businesses or simply enjoying extended holiday.

Obviously worried with substantial number of employees either found missing or absent due to the communal violence in the state since May 2023, the SDSA has suggested that the heads of departments ensure proper attendance of the staffers, a proposition most likely to be onerous for the officials in-charge unless the law enforcement agencies could guarantee safe conveyance of employees belonging to the communities in conflict.

As it is the public who would ultimately be affected by departments operating at half pace, SDSA should exert pressure on the rogue employees so as to ensure that the government offices serve the purpose rather than exist for guaranteeing monthly salary of the staff members.

From the government side, the SDSA grievances over lack of basic amenities including power backup and internet connectivity in almost all the departments, should be promptly addressed for it is unthinkable for contemporary government institutions to operate efficiently without the basic requirements.

The government should also examine effectiveness of its rationalisation policy, especially aftermath of the communal violence as possibility cannot be ruled out about unaffected employees lobbying for posting in branch offices of their choice instead of complying with the directive aimed at lessening impact from the unrest situation on government institutions.