PM's prescriptions & we

Free Thinker *

Shri Narendra Damodardas Modi the prime minister of Bharat has given 7 prescriptions to his citizens to follow considering the present precarious global politico-economic scenario. The world is now drifting towards a depression and if the wars continue for some more time this depression is likely to be greater than the Great Depression of 1929-39. Perhaps the world is also moving back to the Cold-war era again.

But this time, the coldwar is not between the Communist bloc and Capitalist bloc but between cliques of Billionaires. One bloc led by American Billionaires and another bloc led by oriental billionaires. The national heads will be dictated by these groups.

Right now also they are doing the same thing but tacitly. For the time being let us forget about this new development and concentrate on the prescriptions given by our beloved Prime Minister.

The first prescription is - start doing work from home, remote working, video conferencing, and virtual meetings to reduce fuel expenditure and cut down emissions. Here, in Manipur we are already on board MLAs join the Assembly Sessions via video conferencing, officers are working remotely (sitting at a place and working for another place).

We have done lot of fuel cutting exercises like- lockdowns, bandhs and blockades and on top it valley citizens are not driving towards the hills and vice versa saving a lot of fuel.

Postpone Foreign trips - we could anticipate this announcement; for the last 3'years Manipuris (majority) have stopped going to Myanmar; otherwise many thousands kept visiting Myanmar off and on. My brother-in-law went to Moreh-Tamu just before May, 2023.

Now forget about foreign trips the maximum number of the people of Manipur will not go out from the State -strictly following PM’s words. In fact the economic condition of the general masses is really bad - so, they cannot afford to move out.

Limit Gold purchase -these days gold purchase from the market is almost nil in the State ; only some purchases take place due to weddings and ear-piercing ceremonies Otherwise most of the gold purchases are from distress sale.

The gold jewellery are being sold off due to urgent pecuniary needs. People have started selling their gold reserves or jewellery at much cheaper rates in desperation - rather distress sales. Buyers simply buy to help the needy seller.

Cutting edible oil consumption - this can be done. It is good for health also. The original oil production in the State is either from mustard or animal. Animal based oils are mainly used in the hills and Mustard oils are produced and consumed in the valley.

Ghee and refined oils come from outside. Ghee consumption in the State is minimal and refined oil consumption is getting higher and higher every day. But people in Manipur are fond of boiled foods and roasted items. So they can live without oil happily, complying with the PM's wish.

Adopt Natural farming - this is again a very apt idea close to our heart. The people of Manipur are always in favour of organic or natural farming - for soil conservation and sustainable agriculture. This is true for both the hills and valley. Only a few decades ago we started adopting chemical fertilizers , pesticides, weedicides etc.

Some 50 years ago we were completely dependent on natural manures and . I don’t know whether we can stop using pesticides and weedicides but of course we may do away with the chemical fertilizers. Sikkim is now a fully organic State. But now they have a problem of low productivity and products are not attractive - though healthy and costly.

Boosting Swadeshi Products - Encouraging local products is the motto for the patriots and nationalists. Even in a globalized economy where both production and delivery systems are also gradually controlled by the big companies and multinationals -many still love their own local products.

Again PM’s slogan for ‘vocal for local’ is very close to the hearts of Manipuri people - who always desire to produce things locally and consume too ( a tradition for Manipuris since time immemorial).

Induce fuel discipline -The PM is making a sincere appeal to all the citizens to reduce the overall consumption of petrol and diesel by maximizing the use of public transport and metro services. State Metro service is yet to start in Manipur and at the same time the public transport is there only for name sake.

Government buses are hardly plying - only the private buses and taxis are doing the business. Of course the public can still stop using their private cars and bikes and they may shift to buses, autos and taxis (travelling together). At the same time the Ministers, MLAs, officers may move together in a car. Their security convoy, may be reduced as done by the PM.

People will follow the Prime Minister’s prescriptions but common Manipuris are begging for one thing from the PM ; since they are pissed off with the prolonged bloodbath perpetrated by perverted extremists their prayer is to flush out the culprits or freeze their guns.

Common masses still long for a peaceful multiethnic Manipur - it has been a long wait.