Imphal, April 25: Asserting that corruption has eaten into the vitals of the society, Achou said that corruption which was viewed as something wrong and indulged in only by those in positions of power have today become institutionalised and is seen as a right to be enjoyed.

Greasing the palm of the powers that be is no longer seen as corruption but is known by its modern term, 'percentage cuts,' said the statement and added that asking for monetary returns under the table is no longer deemed to be corruption but money earned for doing a favour.

Today corruption is no longer confined to the people in positions of power but has percolated down to all section of society, said the KYKL chairman and added that it is hard to find a single honest man in Manipur today.

Corruption has also given rise to another culture, wherein people want to earn money without working for it, without sweating, without any sincere work, said Achou and added that the people are submerged in the culture of self centric outlook, failing to see the right from the wrong, have become a slave to money and not at all bothered about the well being of society as a whole.

Today the people of Manipur have become a breed who do not know the value of money, do not know how to earn money but are nevertheless under the impression that money is everything and where everyone has come under the influence of blind consumerism.

The youngsters are caught in the vicious circle of drugs and intoxicants, lamented the KYKL leader and added that there just does not seem to be any light at the end of the tunnel.

Parents have also lost the art of parenting.

One of the chief reasons for the sorry state of affairs is the rule of the Indian Government, asserted the rebel leader.

However the fault also lies with the public as well as the revolutionaries and the public leaders, said Achou.

While the revolutionaries concentrated only on the armed struggle to win back the lost sovereignty, they seemed to have overlook the important aspect of where the society is heading towards, he observed.

The public as well as the public leaders have also forgotten that they are under an alien rule and even if they know, they prefer to look the other way.

It is because of the failure to understand as well as counter the plans of India for the past sixty years that Manipur is today caught in such an unenviable position, reasoned the KYKL leader.

India has been pumping in money to Manipur, said Achou but added that the funds released is not to enable the people to provide employment, to provide avenues create assets or to procure machineries to produce goods.

As such the people have developed the culture of expecting everything from the Government, said Achou adding that this has been the economy of Manipur.

Today everyone has lost touch on how to build assets and are contented on buying everything from the non-locals, asserted the KYKL leader.

With the changing culture all over the world, the need for money to possess the modern goods is felt more and more, said Achou and added that since the people know only how to spend without generating income and wealth, they have to turn to the Govt for financial help.

To get money from the Govt, one does not need to work.

Instead what is needed is to cosy up to the powers that be, use all the tricks in the trade, use unethical methods etc.

On the other hand, since it is impossible for the Govt to provide the financial needs of everyone, people have to use other methods, said Achou.

It has become some sort of a trend for three/four persons to get together to form a faction of a group and earn money, said the chairman.

Many impostors have sprung up to extort money in the name of revolutionaries and even those in positions of power have started dipping their fingers in the money meant for the people in the name of some armed groups.

As the UG organisations have levied a tax of 5 pc on K-oil, those in positions of power have taken away all the quota of the people under the pretext that it has been taken by the armed groups, claimed Achou.

Since there is no longer any work culture, the higher ups no longer work, clerks no longer work on their files and teachers are reluctant to dispense with their duties and teach the young children, said the rebel leader.

The result is there for all to see in the non-governance, the lack of development, no increase in agricultural production, no business activities and no industry.

As such cheating people of their money, selling a plot of agricultural land to three/four persons to get more money have become something of a trend, said the statement and added that today everyone is wary of striking up partnerships for any business venture.

In Manipur today, there are two categories of armed persons, said Achou and named as the revolutionaries, with all their shortcomings and the other one are the impostors working under the garb of revolutionaries.

Most of the mindless killings are carried out by the impostors.

Such elements are known to killed some petty officials of Govt Depts in their tussle with the higher officials over financial matters and thus terrorise all the employees of the Dept.

Comment