Gridlock in Manipur
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: April 29 2015 -

The immeasurable loss in terms of manpower and development in three days of virtual lock-out of all government offices in Manipur will sound outlandish in countries like Japan and China where the worst form of protest by the workers and employees is to wear black badges during office hours.

It is mind boggling how things have come to such a sad pass.

Was the government sleeping over the May 19, 2010 MoU as something impracticable?

If so, why did the government sign it? Are the employees demanding more like Oliver Twist regardless of the cash strapped state and their questionable contribution to the state administration?

Both parties should have put all the cards on the table so that the tax payers could make a judgment since it is their money that the government will spend once the demands are granted.

If the government employees in other states are enjoying the enhanced pay and perks as demanded by the state government employees there is no reason why these should be denied.

The people are entitled to know why Manipur is experiencing this kind of protest from the employees while their counterparts in other states seem to be happy with the arrangements by their governments.

More importantly, it is not explained why the government had signed the MoU it never intended to translate into concrete actions.

The Opposition parties should have publicly discussed the burning issue.

Since the decimated Opposition parties had stopped playing the role of a watchdog Manipur does not have a vibrant democracy and it is deplorable.

Instead of fire fighting in Imphal, Okram Ibobi had to attend a meeting of the Chief Minister’s Sub Group on Rationalisation of Centrally Sponsored Scheme at NITI Aayog in Delhi without instructing his deputy to handle the serious case.

This amounts to dodging responsibility and accountability.

The Chief Minister could have delegated another minister for the meeting; now the minister who is holding the fort cannot lift a finger to the JAC which is enforcing the mass casual leave.

In this state where there is no strike, blockade or other disruptions only for a few days in a year the three days' office lock out may not create a froth.

But people in the civilized countries where work culture is the cornerstone will be swept off their feet on hearing it.

If some of the demands are reasonable the government should not delay in granting the same since it is very prompt in the upward revision of the pay and perks of the elected members.

It should bring to the notice of the people if some of the demands are unreasonable and have no parallel in the country.

One of the factors of the demand for higher pay and perks is the untrammelled price hike as the government is giving carte blanche to the traders since some higher ups had learned long time back that it is self defeating to bite the hand that feeds.

Though belated an agreement should be ironed out.

The tax payers should not be reduced to pawns in this battle between the government and the employees.