Seminar on 'Corruption and Governance in NE' held
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 16 2016: A three-day regional seminar on "Corruption and Governance in Northeast India" kicked off on September 16, 2016 at the Court Room of VC Office, Manipur University.

The seminar was organized by the Department of Social Work, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Regional Campus, Manipur in collaboration with the Centre for Manipur Studies, Manipur University and sponsored by the North Eastern Council, Shillong.

Thangso Baite, Member of the Parliament, Professor W Nabakumar Singh, Department of Anthropology, Manipur University and Khaidem Mani, Senior Advocate graced was the inaugural programme of the seminar as chief guest and guests of honour respectively.

Seminar on 'Corruption and Governance in NE'

Former MP Kim Gangte attened a special invitee while Dr Ng Ngalengnam, Director (i/c), Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Regional Campus Manipur presided over the function.

Dr Aheibam Koireng Singh, Centre for Manipur Studies, Manipur University said the purpose of the seminar is to have an academic understanding of the widely prevalent phenomenon of corruption.

He said corruption is freely practiced by those occupying the ivory tower and office of the highest authority.

He illustrated the phenomena of the Ministers and MLAs becoming contractors whereby the genuine contractors have disappeared in Manipur.

Prof W Nabakumar Singh said that corruption has become a household word in day-today lives.

Every aspect of life is affected by the practice.

There is no supersaturated stage for corruption, it goes on and on, he stated.

He added that the seminar will discuss the varied aspects of corruption in Northeast and work towards finding a solution.

He said the Government cannot only be blamed for the practice, people are equally responsible and to be blamed.

The people including the academia has to apply their minds when electing representatives, he stated.

Khaidem Mani said corruption violates human rights and it has become an industry in Northeast.

Corruption runs from the grassroot level such as Panchayati Raj and ADC to the State level machinery, he said.

He cited the recent recruitment of police constable as an example.

The hill-valley divide that resonates in Manipur today is the result of corruption among leaders in both the spaces and on account of mis-governance.

He concluded by stating that the culture of silence needs to be abandoned as well as the so called tolerant culture if corruption has to be eradicated.

Kim Gangte opined that corruption begins from selfishness.

Shared her experience as a politician she said, "In valley areas, during elections, women folk gathers in group and wait for the candidates to turn up so that they can demand money.

In hill areas, those who have guns and are powerful frisk away the ballot boxes" .

According to Kim, this is the root cause of corruption, and politicians alone cannot be balmed.

Thangso Baite remarked that the seminar should not be directed against any individual, department or Ministry.

He said it would be wrong to jump to conclusion even in the most cited case of the recruitment of the constables.

According to him, the Government has already accepted the "errors".

"It can be corruption or irregularity or any other form of mistake.

But it would be wrong to conclude it as mere case of corruption", he said.

Dr Ng Ngalengnam said the theme of the seminar is unique as it touches upon the right issues affecting the lives of the people in Manipur.

He observed that it is the responsibility of the Government to provide security and basic needs to the people.

"For instance when the Government fails, one can rightly say that the Government is anti-people.

It also reveals that it is a corrupt Government", he said.

According to him, corruption begins from the top (the representatives) and moves down to the lowest level of the society.

The Job market in Manipur is afflicted with corruption.

Developmental activities are also equally affected.

"Everyone is familiar with the story of percentage cuts practiced by the Ministers when it comes to development works", he said adding that more pertinent issues will be discussed during the seminar and many of findings can be forwarded to the Government for policy formulations to control corruption.

Dr Hanjabam Shukhdeba Sharma, Department of Social Work, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Regional Campus, Manipur proposed the vote of thanks.