Chinese LED Lamps: A Boon for People Of Manipur

By Sama Kshetri *

1. LED lamps originating from China imported through the border between Manipur with Myanmar lights up the whole state of Manipur as the sun sets in. Though every village has been electrified on official records, the state becomes lifeless as soon as the sun sets except for few quarters of ministers and beaucrates which are connected to a well-known electric power line called "VIP line".

The power shortage is so much, electric supply isrationed at different areas at different time of the day which every kid at Manipur also is very much familiar with and called "Load Shedding". Electric supply is available at odd hours and it does not meet any requirement of any one.

The ministers and beaucrates who are connected to VIP lines get 24 hours a day and 365 days of uninterrupted power supply. As they have uninterrupted power supply, why should they worry for the common man in their state? They will buy these common men in the next election willingly.

Picture Courtesy :: Deepak Shijagurumayum

2. Though the plight of hill people is slightly better off as compare with the valley people due to various reasons which is beyond the scope of my topic, every home in Manipur use LED lamp irrespective of rich, poor, caste and creed.

3. However, Manipur owe a lot to China as all the products used and available are from them. One of the product that gives some relief to this wonderful (I say wonderful because it is the only place in the world that do not want to progress and develop as a state but want to become rich individually by hook and (not or) crook) state and people is the LED lamp.

4. There are different types, sizes of LED lamps available all over Manipur. These lamps can light up upto 3-4 hr in one full charging which can be charged fully within 2/3 hr. The price is between Rs 100 to 500. The brightness and life of each charging is the biggest boon for electric less Manipuri people. One lamp can light one room and can be used for studying by students.

5. Manipur, today require basic requirement of life i.e. electricity, water supply and road infrastructure to start with. When there is no electricity, there will be no industry, forget big industry but the small scale industries leading to mass unemployment. This is the result of long continuing fault in the policies of the Govt and its officials.

The mass corruption prevailing from grass root to top official to policy makers /ministers led to this shortage of power today and if the Govt and officials do not take corrective actions now, the people of Manipur will continue to suffer for generations and generations.

5. The defaulters in paying bill should be fined accordingly. However, those official meter readers who manipulate the reading to pocket few amount are doing a crime, so they should be booked under the criminal law. Those supervisor and senior officials who do not perform their duties seriously should be penalized under the existing rules.

Those officials who try to earn few black money while giving contracts for supply and installation many projects should be sent to jail also. Those contractors who supply substandard items should also be punished under anti-corruption act along with those officials who accepts these substandard items.

However, it can happen only when there is a Government who has will and gut to change the system. But I wonder when!!!!

6. Till then we have to thank to these Chinese LED lamps.