4 years of citizen centric govt
- Imphal Times Editorial :: March 16, 2021 -

when everything is okay speech on Water and Education is still way to go

Roti, makan and kapra today no longer is the only basic human Rights. Today’s fast growing world need proper drinking water, health care facilities, educations, and clean environment so that people could breath fresh and air are also need to be considered as the basic human rights of the common people.

The BJP’s N. Biren Singh led coalition government in the state today celebrates 4 year of citizen centric government. Besides, many achievements, the chief minister N. Biren Singh had spoken about his government successful implementation of rendering service to the people.

There is nothing to be criticized to the speech of the Chief Minister as everything what he had stated is for the people particularly for the poor sections of the community.

His government has introduced CMHT to enable the poor in getting free medical service, He talk about the “School Fagathansi Mission” , constructions of over 42 thousands house for the homeless and financial sport to over thousands entrepreneurs.

The chief Minister also stated that potable water connection reached to household is over 46 % today which was only 7% at the time when his government came to power in March 15, 2017.

This if true need applause and appreciations from all corners. But common people listening the speech sometimes felt that Is the Chief Minister misguided or misinformed about the water crisis being face by the people.

This is being said so because over 90 percent of the people living in the under the jurisdiction of the Imphal Municipal Corporation hardly gets potable tape water.

Saying so sometimes the tap water was released but only for few hours and that too once in every two week without any information being provided on which time the tape water will release.

Those authorities in the PHED simple answered shortage of water on being questioned the reason for failure to release tape water every day. The reality is that almost every household under the jurisdiction of IMC spend Rs. 500/- or more for 2000 liters of water (not sure about its safety) and that too any time.

This means that the reply from the PHED authority about the unavailability of water is a blatant lie, as those water tanker supplier on payment of money can fill their tank any moment from the Water Supply unit on payment of fee.

Today, as people are more concern about the safety of their health, people prefer package water and spend Rs. 10/- for one liter of drinking water. The Chief Minister’s statement about providing tap water to 46% of the today household turn out to be blatant lie as people are not getting the water but rather buying it.

Saying so it is a good initiative of the Chief Minister to introduce the CMHT card where poor people can get free medical treatment. There are loophole in the implementation of the CMHT card but the gestures need to be appreciated all. However, the CMHT card will have no meaning at all if clean and proper water are not provided to the poor who can’t afford package water.

On education, the spirit of the government to make government schools improve by introducing the School Phagathansi Mission is another appreciative move. However, the way the mission is implemented as seen from the observers, lacks of commitment for its proper implementation is not notice.

Easier is said than done. When APP government of New Delhi can convert into action on the making of the government schools at the top even better then the Private schools, how come the government of Manipur particularly those in the education sector under the leadership of the Minister in Charge took so long in making at least some few schools better than the private run schools.

The education department today have the most qualified teachers who are also well paid and almost all schools (Govt) have also adequate space , but still after 4 years and after 2 years of promise for improvement of those government school, nothing on practical has been notice to the change in the school infrastructures.

May be many good things have done by the government led by Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, but talking about providing proper tap water and improvement of government schools is hard to believe as no citizens are blind.

Saying so there is still time and if the government is committed it may not take even six months to make into reality what the Chief Minister had stated today.