Of rationality and keeping the promises
- Imphal Times Editorial :: September 26 2017 -

Good governance is what the people of the state have always been waiting for.

With the coming of a new government under the leadership of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and in witnessing the activities of his government in the first 3 or 4 months, people somehow sees hope about the restoration of the trust deficit between the people and government.

To mention some of the appreciating job successfully taken up by the N. Biren Singh led government – it is the bridging the year long gap of misunderstanding between Hills and Plain people.

It was of course his sincerity and commitment for bringing a peaceful state that people have witness a bandh free, agitation free state in the month of June, July after almost a gap of 15 years.

The opportunity provided to the common people to express their grievances directly to the Chief Minister by organizing peoples’ day is worth appreciating.

Promises made for promotion of traditional festival of almost every community of the state and also for development of the infrastructure already win the heart of almost all people of the state.

Now the incumbent government led by Chief Minister N. Biren Singh is six months old.

And for a government of five years span six months is indeed a long period.

At the moment people are waiting for conversion of what he and his government had promised.

Easier is said than done, the first time when people of the state applause the good work of the N Biren Singh led government was when he assured to take up every means for eradication of the chronic corruption from the soil of the state.

The establishment of the Anti corruption Cell and the follow up action as per compliant received by the cell was worth appreciating.

Many government employees which are at the rank of grade IV, peon, or constable of police department have been landed in trouble.

The announcement to shake all re-engaged staffs in government offices by the spokesperson of the state government, when the government was merely two months old was also an appreciative decision of the N. Biren Singh government.

But what is surprised is the way the government is doing after 6 months.

Imphal Times had published news story regarding irregularities in the implementation of water –pipeline implantation scheme under IFCD from Thoubal Dam.

The employees of whole of the department know what the report was all about.

Yet, no enquiry has been constituted to find out what went wrong.

As said easier said is than done, the credibility of the new government is seem to be compromised when it comes to the re-engagement of retired government servant.

Of course the spokesperson of the state government had stated that except for some technical post there will be no re-engagement of retired government employees.

It is all right when it thinks certain corporation like MTDC needs an experienced head.

But when the so call retired experience engineer is tainted with allegations of corruption what is reason behind selecting that particular person for the top job of the corporation.

Manipur is flooded with unemployed experienced engineer who already had years of experience in multinational companies outside the state as well as aboard.

Besides, the MTDC already had qualified engineers who have the potential of heading the corporation.

Why this specific person had to be chosen?

A mere speculation suggest that there is something fishy going on and this kind of particular event may sabotage the whole image of the good governance planning.

By the way getting an integrity certificate from the vigilance department at any moment of time is not an impossible task or someone who can influence even the state cabinet ministers.

Are the peoples’ hope going to be shattered once again?

Wish everything goes in the right directions.