Editorial – Page 65 – Manipur News

The State Drug trafficking Law

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The talk of a state law to tackle drug trafficking, which is prevalent in the state is most interesting. The call for the bill which when passed by the Assembly would become law is set to contain stringent laws adhering to the already existent NDPS Act (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985) that applies across the country. The move for the state law that is centered around the word ‘stringent’ is telling considering that the NDPS Act in itself states: “to consolidate and amend the law relating to narcotic drugs, to make stringent provisions for the control and regulation of operations relating to narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, to provide for the forfeiture of property derived from, or used in, illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, to implement the provisions of the International Convention on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and for matters connected therewith.” Further, it is illegal for a person to produce/manufacture/cultivate, possess, sell, purchase, transport, store, and/or consume any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance under the Act. Apart from the NDPS Act, the Prevention of Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act passed in 1988 as a drug control law to enable the full implementation and enforcement of the NDPS Act. Under the said Acts, there are already terms of punishment cut out from six month onwards and more but the implementation aspect was where the state had stumbled earlier till huge drug consignments were seized and came to be widely reported bringing them to public domain and leading to public ire. This public ire has come about due to the involvement of security personnel of all hues operating in the state who are supposed to be involved in preventing drug trafficking in the first place. But even as the involvement of state security forces are out in the public domain, what is not talked about is how non state forces are also an active player in the drug trafficking process. A terminology ‘Narco-terrorism’ is increasingly a reality with drugs being the easiest means for procuring funds to finance armed movements or to be used as access to arms and ammunition.

With different state forces bent on searching each other and now with reports of civil society groups ‘raiding’ homes of police officials and seizing illegal drugs, it is a free for all of sorts. But drug seizures are neither a new phenomenon in the state nor the official mention of the state being a transit and conduit point for drug trafficking. Much before the regular occurrence of drug seizures became a common feature in the news flow, there were earlier instances of central armed personnel being involved in drug trafficking while one former Finance Minister was apprehended with Heroin in a neighboring state and served the sentence in jail. The spurt in drug seizures may well be an indirect impact of the spotlight on fake encounters in the state, which was earlier, a recurring event in the state. Also, the news of drug seizures helps build the image of a responsible state police force that is working effectively: though the irony of course, is that most seizures have netted security personnel. But if the State police are sitting easy thinking that they got the confidence of the people through their actions of swooping down on drug trafficking and ‘taking action’, that would be far off the mark for there are rumblings on the ground with most voices asking about what happens to the seized drugs.

Coming to the state specific law, it indeed it must come to being then there would be no point if the systems for its implementation are not structured on a strong note. More than a new Act focusing on stringent actions, it would be more pertinent to look at effective investigation processes to ascertain those who are hidden in the shadow of drug trafficking. For this to happen, there must be an autonomous board constituting of senior citizens and those whose track record are impeccable who are entrusted the task and the power of overseeing investigations that can then be made public. This board must be the repository of reports of the police investigation teams and take stock of the legal processes being taken up against those found to be involved in drug trafficking cases. As long as it is the police that makes up the sole body responsible for tackling drug trafficking in the state, there is every chance that not much headway can take place as is evident from the fact that all drug trafficking cases have only netted those moving the drugs from place to place but not zeroed in on to the wider network and the players involved.

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Fighting Naxals

Union and state government are not able to chalk out a strategy to solve the Naxal movement which has spread out fast. It has hit hard recently indicated that it means real business. For the last decade or so there has been a campaign within the government to solve it but no concrete steps were taken up. India has problems in most of the north eastern states and Jammu and Kashmir . Even before insurgency movement took seed in Manipur the Union government had already decided to tackle any problem which may come up. It was to impose AFSPA and eliminate those who rebel. JK had also similar story with AFSPA and the evils associated with it. If the Union government really took up measures to fight the insurgency movements in north east and the movement in JK in a humane and political manner the administration could have been equipped with the mentality and infrastructure to fight the movements. As the Naxal movement is raging on within the heartland of the country and the media and the people are concerned with the people living in the Naxal affected areas no one wants to involve the military. Even after the recent massacre including top Congress leaders the first reaction from the political class in New Delhi was, “ No army to solve Naxal problem” even though all available adjectives were used to condemn the killings. The raging battle is not arms but of the mindset. The battle has to be fought through the minds. Whatever it is necessary to rectify the wrongs on the part of the government specially corruption, bad governnance have to be rooted out. The government should consult experts and experts should include academicians, political analysts not only police and officials and self proclaimed experts. The problem has really exposed the failiure of the administration to reach out to the masses and to the peripheries. All insurgency related problems occur in the peripheries were people are poor . Naxalism, which started from Naxalbari area in West Bengal in 1967 had almost seen its end but it started flourishing after the merger of the Peoples War Group (PWG) and the Maoist Communist Centre (MCC) in September, 2004 which led to the formation of the CPI (Maoist). As per official records the movement holds sway in ten states involving about 180 districts. All the steps taken up were to supply more arms and pour in security personnel. There is shortage of security personnel and most of them do not want to be posted in Naxal dominated areas. The 2006 status report stated that the Government would address the problem in a holistic manner. That includes ‘political security, development and public perception management fronts’ as well. To thwart designs of the government the Naxals are directly attacking politicians, security personnel and wiping out all developmental process taken up in the affected areas. Backed with security personnel civil administration should infiltrate and meticulously develop the infrastructure otherwise everything will be in a complete doldrum. The first approach is to love the people and their problems not killing the people as adopted in Manipur and other insurgency affected people. Once people realise the government really loves them and means business they will also come out and support the government otherwise there will be no meeting point.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/fighting-naxals/

Food waste and hunger pangs

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Manipur is no stranger to food wastage. Given the practice of feasting and festivities prevalent in every community in the state, the resulting waste of food would be on a major scale. Wastage of food can happen at various stages through the gamut of its production, processing, storage, transportation and consumption. In Manipur, the poor transport and communication systems leads to large scale wastage while the lack of adequate storage and processing facilities render agricultural products that are part of food components useless besides robbing the state of potential finances in return for its export and sale. A 2009 UNEP study states that India loses yearly 23 million tonnes of food cereals, 12 million tonnes of fruits, and 21 million tonnes of vegetables in various stages of food production to consumption. Though there is no comprehensive study that can give a conclusive picture for the state, it would not be wrong to draw parallels with what a recent study by the Indian Institute of Public Administration had to say about the wastage of food during social gatherings in Delhi. The study shows that rising economic prosperity makes people indulge in extravagance during social events and people do not mind throwing away food. For Manipur, the practice of major community feasting practiced by different sections of the population cutting across communities but specifically, the regular practice of ushops presents a huge scope for huge food wastage. The Meitei social eating practice is yet to adapt to the buffet system while the traditional ushop with its code of food servings involving pre seated food items on the plate/meal sitting contributes to a major portion being wasted by one person with the practice of having numerous dishes as the norm in community feasting adding to the burden of waste. While some enterprising people who rear pigs do have an arrangement of collecting food wasted during ushops and other community feasting, the amount of waste of items that go towards preparing the food is not taken into account.

Experts in the sector looking at food production make the point how a practice like wasting of food which can be controlled and addressed go on to add to another major issue confronting the country: that of hunger and malnourishment. The 2012 Global Hunger Index in fact put India in the 15th place from the bottom with the country reporting nearly one-fifth of the country’s total population and 43.5 per cent of under-five children as malnourished. It is obvious from the figures that the amount of food that is wasted can go a long way in stemming the hunger pangs in the country. On the national level, the state of Government run granaries and food godowns leave much to be desired with media reports showing time and again how food grains are rotting away, eaten up by rodents or simply vanishing into the pockets of people involved in the process of public distribution systems of food grains. The same scenario is true at the State level too but also impacted by the regular bout of bands and blockades that impact the delivery of food items. While Government machineries would have to step up its act in terms of plugging in the gaps that exist at the stages of food processing, storage and its transportation, the common man can also step in to plug in and stop food from being wasted at the stage of consumption. This can be done through simple mechanisms or rather practices, starting from cutting down on the number of dishes being served during occasions of community feasting and cutting down on the portion size of servings since additional helpings can always be called for. The older generation may still be unprepared for the more western style of buffet style eating but even with the younger generation, there would need to be some more etiquette lessons required since it is not proper to pile up one’s plates by taking advantage of being ahead in the buffet line. For those not ready to take ownership of the food wastage vis a vis hunger issue, it would bode well to recall the call given by the Food and Agriculture Organization, the U.N. food agency to fight off the demands of food production and growing hunger in the world by including edible insects like grasshoppers, ants and other members of the insect world is most interesting. Those willing to go in for gastronomical experiments are better off but those not so willing to go that far must surely think of the easier way of plugging in the food waste that is taking place.

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Countdown to 2014

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Going by the current trends on the political scene, the 2014 General Elections is already generating some heat. If Rahul Gandhi was earlier being anointed as the next Prime Ministerial candidate or at least, a potential name for the post; the announcement of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as the head of the BJP’s election campaign committee is seen as a step towards the journey to being the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. The announcement of Modi’s elevation at the BJP’s national executive meet was no big surprise but LK Advani’s absence at the meet was a put on surprise. Much before the official announcement, there was every indication that the BJP would be chanting the NaMo chant: the rumble within the party with coteries centered around other top level leaders, Advani’s age factor but mostly, the growing popularity and ‘acceptance’ of Narendra Modi on the national political arena. A recent poll by a national newspaper showed that projected the possibility of Modi v/s Rahul Gandhi as Prime Minister had more takers for the former over the later. And even though the poll was based on the readership of the said paper, there is no doubt that there are now takers for Modi amongst various constituents of the country: starting from young people to industrialists. While one poll limited to the readership of a national newspaper cannot reflect the mood of the entire country the results made news because 38% of those polled gave their vote for Modi while Rahul Gandhi as PM came in second with 23% of the votes followed incidentally by current PM Manmohan Singh with 14% votes and Advani with 6% votes.

The growing popularity of Narendra Modi put aptly as the Namo chant is an ambitious and adapting journey that no one would have thought possible given Modi’s track record in his early years in Gujarat with Godhra being a niggling thorn made profound by the growing cases of fake encounters in the state. Modi’s ascent is creatively modeled on Gujarat’s growth story and even though many subject experts, journalists and others have pointed out various aspects of the growth story as being not near to the truth, the fact is that Modi’s rise and acceptance is growing by the day. The official anointment sealed off Advani’s path to the seat of the PM in the event of a BJP led Government at the Center. And while the after effects of Advani’s reaction and former NDA allies to the news of Modi’s elevation are still coming in, the most entertaining and profound was the manner in which Advani reacted saying that there were personal agendas. In the social network scene and notably on Twiter, Advani without naming anyone recalled dictatorial personalities. And if Advani giving up his membership of the national executive, parliamentary board and central election committee’ was thought as being his exit, there may still be some face saving left to do which is why the RSS played agony aunt and brokered a semblance of some stability.

Notwithstanding the Adavani and Modi rumblings, the fact is that Modi at the helm disturbs the NDA’s attempt at secularism which is why the Janata Dal (United) has walked off. The Congress, which has been caught on the back-foot with an endless stream of scams and scary economic growth figures on one hand and infighting amongst its various leadership levels may find it difficult to get a nod at governance again post 2014. But in politics, they say is about the unexpected. Considering that the BJP is still into firefighting mode internally and NDA allies going into a thinking mode, the 2014 general elections has all ingredients of being an entertaining affair.

In Manipur too, there are already political moves being played out with an eye on the 2014 elections. The Congress is already into its political conventions that go into extolling the virtues of the party and its performance in the state while the BJP is in attacking mode. The stage looked set for the state’s own interesting political battle when it was announced that various political parties in the state would come together to field a common candidate against the Congress candidate but that has come to naught with some parties not wanting to hop on a platform where the BJP is on board.

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Third front will be detrimental to the well being of the country

Third front will emerge. That’s definite. Real challenge Congress will face will be in tackling the growing strength of third front. The nation will suffer if third front comes to power at the centre. Instability will be the hallmark of the administration. What we saw during Chandrasekhar regime in the past when India mortgaged even gold to buy American dollar may be repeated. The foreign exchange reserve was almost nil. It went down below 4000 crore, which was fit for buying one week’s food for one billion people. There will be internal bickering among the parties. Like the demons devouring everything they can lay hands on the country’s wealth will end up being shared by cronies. If that is the change 2014 Lok Sabha elections want to bring, why should voters waste precious time and energy analysing the merits and demerits of the political parties. Two party systems does wonderful job in the largest democracy of the world America. It is also doing well in UK. Congress led UPA confronting with BJP led NDA is far better than the addition of another front. Then there is Left Front, which cannot ally with any of these groups. Remember too many cooks spoil the broth. India is a sub continent. It requires a powerful Government at the centre to keep all united. The Government at the centre cannot be kept under the mercy of the Chief Ministers spread across the country. That will set a bad precedent. What is happening in BJP also sounds funny. Chief Minister of a state leading the campaign committee setting aside other central leaders of the party, does not it reflect the ever dwindling image of the party? Yes after the election Modi can be projected as Prime Minister of the party in the event of BJP sweeping the polls. That’s an ominous start. His projection has paved way for mushrooming of another front, which was unheard of one week back. Amazingly Modi does not realise the harm he is doing to his party. If he quits the post, NDA will remain intact and the possibility of third raising its head is ruled out. In the recent past when the union railway minister Trivedi was removed on complaint by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Bannerjee, who is boss of party it sounded incongruity with the policy of the UPA. Federal forum envisaged by these Chief Ministers will break pan India character. Crushing this federal forum should be taken up as a strong challenge both by Congress, BJP and the Left Front.

Statehood demand

The demands for statehood as in India are extremely vocal and is unparallel in the global scenario. The twenty-eight states and seven union territories emerged out of history. After the British Empire left India most states were formed based on ethnicity and languages. Considering the numbers of ethnicity and languages in our country we sometimes feel if the the States Reorganisation Act of 1956 was on the right path or not. Formation of new states have continued based on the demands and necessity. The new millennium was also marked with formation of new states in 2000 like Chhattisgarh , Uttarakhand and Jharkhand. There is a race for development, needs of the people are increasing while the state has failed to meet the demands of the people. The demands for statehood are linked with development and politics. Development is the core issue. Administration should not confine to the periphery of the headquarters and the farther the distance administrative exercises fade out. It seems true in the entire country. Overall growth and development and opportunities have to be delivered otherwise there will be more demand for statehood. The north eastern region though small has witnessed demands for new states and the Darjeeling politics is age old. Even a former Chief Minister of UP aired the need of dividing UP into four states. What it really means is the failure of the state to deliver administrative responsibilities. If the political visionary can not see far and think wide similar demands will keep rising. Now the Telangana issue is on the limelight. Political parties like TRS, BJP and CPI have joined the fray. Such is the pitch of the agitation that the government even declared holiday and made the capital a fort. Such stir we will continue to see if we do not fortright start a new politics where there is equal opportunity and facilities throughout the country. Development process is slow in our country. It took over 60 years to slowly start allow foreigners visit Manipur and other north eastern states. Judicial process is slow, only this year Manipur had its own High Court. People of north east have to go to Guwahati personnally to get a passport. Government facilities should be available everywhere only then will people stop making headaches to the political class.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/statehood-demand/

Revenue collection

Plans are afoot to increase revenue collection by Power Department. Power Department is a losing department. This will continue to be a burden to the Government. Because the people of Manipur have not inculcated the good habit of clearing tax in time and regularly. Chief Minister O. Ibobi, who is also in charge of Power Department has rightly stated that the extension of pre paid system at the areas where there are large number of consumers will check power theft. Ever since pre paid system was introduced in some areas of the state capital the collection of tax has increased manifold and use of electricity too had been minimised. In the past where one bulb would serve the purpose five to six bulbs were used. Pay a visit to Paona Bazar and Thangal bazaar. You will see the bulbs with high watts had been replaced by led bulb having 10 or 15 watts. Even the fans too had been kept inert without wheeling. Energy has been saved and the revenue collection had been increased. However in spite of the tall claim made by the Government to increase power supply the men assigned the task of performing duty have different idea quite diametric to the original plan of the Government. They do not feel at all the need for sending meter readers to the houses of consumers. If meter readers do not prepare bills and leave it to the consumers to do the task of meter reading how will the dream materialise? What is happening at Uripok is consumers themselves do the meter reading and prepare the bill by themselves. Many have not cleared bills for the energy used. When the cumulative bill has crossed four figures no consumer will be to clear the bill. After all hard earned money cannot be given away easily. Subsequently they have to indulge in power theft. Who is responsible for all these misdeeds? The blame will naturally fall on the concerned department for it has not performed its duty of sending meter readers to the houses of consumers. The matter is serious. It should be looked into by the higher authority. We all agree that meter readers might be ridiculed when they go to the houses for doing the task of meter reading. The number of such persons throwing abusive languages to the meter readers might be very few. There are thousand others, who want the bills be delivered in time. If the authority is thinking of outsourcing the task of meter reading to the private organisations nothing wrong with that as long as the task is done regularly on monthly basis. Something must be done to enhance the revenue of the state.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/revenue-collection/

Crime and Punishment.

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The ‘guilty’ announcement by the Court of the District and Sessions Judge, Manipur for the four accused in what has now come to be known as the U-Morok gang rape case is a precursor to how cases of rapes that are now being taken up in legal and police systems will shape. While earlier there have been cases where police have failed to file charge sheets in cases of rapes even after years of FIRs being submitted, stipulations under the Criminal Law Amendment Act 2013 which was passed in March this year have now ensured that charge sheets are filed within 90 days of the FIR. In the first place, the Act came about following the recommendations of the Commission led by Justice Verma that was instituted to look at ways and measures to address rising crimes against women in the country following the brutal gang rape and subsequent death of a 23 year old para medical student in New Delhi in December last year. Interestingly, the Act stipulates the punishment for rape and sexual assault cases with seven years of rigorous imprisonment of either description for 7 yrs to life and fine with the quantum of punishment increasing to 10 years for the same case of rape and sexual assault if committed by a public servant including police personnel. Since two of the four accused in the said case includes two state policeman, it will be interesting on one hand to see the differences in the terms and/or quantum of punishment for the two police personnel and the two civilians accused in the case while the judgment will set a precedent for other cases of a similar nature in the state. The Criminal Law Amendment Act 2013 also addresses other crimes on women including stalking, eve teasing. The later has in fact come to be clubbed under sexual harassment in a public place since eve teasing is in effect a form of sexual aggression that ranges in severity from sexually suggestive remarks, brushing in public places and catcalls to outright groping. Once considered a mild social youth related behaviour, there is no doubt that the term ‘eve teasing’ in itself sets the tone for women (the ‘eve’ in question) are mere objects to be made a public spectacle of with women having to bear the brunt for it for being the ‘weaker sex’. The inclusion of this social behaviour by men against women in fact goes a long way in encouraging or giving leeway to men to ‘get away’ with ‘serious crimes’.

Meanwhile, even as strong legal and police action on crimes against women will go towards deterring such incidences in the future, what is more important is for attitudes towards women to change. Till the time, those in the police and the legal system refuse to entertain complaints or discourage women from lodging complaints related to crimes being committed against them, till the time proper investigations are made and appropriate penal codes put in the charge sheets, not much can happen. And while the Criminal Law Amendment Act 2013 has indeed come to the rescue of the many women in the country who have endured various crimes of a sexual nature against them, there is a strong need for social support systems and a shift in attitudes. While strong legal and police action on crimes against women will go towards deterring such incidences in the future, what is more important is for attitudes towards women to change.

In Manipur, we have instances on a regular basis where various civil society groups under the garb of social reform go for what are commonly known as ‘restaurant drives’ rounding up couples in what they describe as ‘compromising situations’ and then giving away names and details of the women. In the process, they not only violate laws of confidentiality but also commit a wrongful action by getting into a sphere where there may be strong grounds for consensual sexual activity or a harmless social meeting, which by dint of social disapproval of such meetings take place in isolation or in restaurants that supposedly give privacy. Many ‘social workers’ and public leaders have in fact also gone on record saying that crimes against women of a sexual nature are the result of provocation by women in terms of what they dress in, where they are going and with whom. Such unwarranted aspersions on the character of women in fact give the men involved in the perpetuation of such crimes the leeway to be emboldened and also get away. But rather than look at character certificates, the focus to prevent the rising sexual crimes against women is to ensure that justice is brought when they do take place without affecting the dignity of the women involved and for various stakeholders of the society to look at ways and means to ensure that men can begin to think of women as their equal. If women are accepted as the weaker lot, men will only continue to suppress them through various ways and means, including taking recourse to sexual crimes.

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Angry man speaks the truth

Advani is angry. His words of caution against the projection of Modi as the top leader of the party fell to the deaf ears. So he took the extreme of relinquishing all the three posts held by him in the BJP. Question is now being asked will he retreat or maintain strong stance of keeping away from the all the functions of the party. Lal Kishen Advani quitting the posts of the BJP did not come as a surprise. He had indicated that when he did not attend the meeting of the party meeting held in Panaji, Goa. He even projected Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister for the post of top post of the party. The charge that he made BJP has ceased to be an idealistic party is serious. He knows too much about BJP. From just two MPs in 1980 Lok Sabha election the party grew by leaps and bound and even leading the Government under the NDA. Now the party appears to be bruised. Therefore it is on the lookout for a new leadership to enthuse fresh blood with the solid aim on 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Leadership starved party fell its eye on Narendra Modi. His projection may create a fresh wave. Modi is cynosure of all eyes in the Hindi heartland. But the wave will be checkmated even by the allies of the NDA. Can BJP go it alone minus these allies and sweep the poll getting the magic figure of 270 plus. If it is confident of getting the magic figure required for formation of Government at the centre, there is nothing wrong with Modi’s projection as chairman of election committee. If it cannot it will suffer colossal loss. For not only allies it will lose support base of the party. Advani and co know that hence the warning against the hasty step of projection of Modi as top leader. The question is also being asked will Modi under pressure from the senior leaders of the party decide to remain confined to his state. If he does he will do a good service to keep the BJP morale high. But he is different from Sonia Gandhi. So he will not do that. Sonia Gandhi refused to be the Prime Minister of the country when the party led by her swept the poll continuously for two terms. There lies the greatness of the lady at the helms of affairs. A political party requires a great leader who can make sacrifice. But the fight within BJP is ominous. It may end like a faux pas.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/angry-man-speaks-the-truth/

Political ramifications

BJP as it appoints Narendra Modi as campaign committee chairman is poised to gain some strength in Hindi heartland. But his projection as the top leader will pave way for fragmentation of the NDA. The argument that he is the chairman of the BJP election campaign committee chairman not of that NDA election committee chairman will hold no water. It is a foregone conclusion that the leader of the majority party leads the Government. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had openly declared that Janata Dal (U) will part away from the NDA in the event of projection of Modi as the prime ministerial candidate. Perhaps BJP sees that JD (U) will no longer be in NDA so it went ahead with its original plan of making Modi as chairman of the committee. Modi’s projection as top leader will also make no difference in the South where Modi factor is immaterial. In Karnataka, which went to polls very recently Narendra Modi made hectic political campaigning for the party but the party was decimated finishing third when results were declared. Since then he remained in obscurity for some time. He has bounced back, this time as chairman of the campaign committee. Prominent BJP leader L. K. Advani, who missed the chance of becoming the Prime Minister of the country by whisker when NDA formed Government at the centre and other leaders of the party like Yaswant Sinha, Jaswant Sinh have openly opposed projection of Modi as chairman of the committee. Had they not opposed his ascendency BJP might have declared him as the Prime Ministerial candidate. The gain that BJP makes will be from Gujarat, Rajasthan and UP. Elsewhere in other states he will not pull crowd. That had been proved when elections were held in other parts of the country. Himachal Pradesh was also wrested by Congress Party when Modi is in his peak popularity. Election is different. What is required is making serious attempt to gauge the mood of the masses particularly voters. The mood can be gauged when voters show enthusiasm in effecting change of the Government. That enthusiasm is conspicuous by its absence. Moreover 30 percent of the people belonging to minority community will not accept Narendra Modi’s leadership. L. K. Advani and other senior leaders of BJP know that so they did not attend the meeting held in Goa. Time will tell whether Narendra Modi factor boosts up BJP or it brings down the party. When we are in distress we remember elderly people’s advice.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/political-ramifications/

Function attended by VIP

The most boring item in a function is the speaker’s, who so ever it may be, opening sentence. Unnecessarily every speaker begins with the same sentence like, respected chief guest, president and guests of honours. The speakers also attempt to mention the names of each and every person if there be any on the dais. Precious 10 minutes are wasted by each speaker in maintaining obsolete decorum of praising the qualities of everyone present inside the hall. The task of praising the qualities of the VVIPs present had been done by one of the representatives in the welcome address given at the start of the function. He had also said the VVIPs despite the hectic schedule have shown the generosity to attend the function. The other speakers need not mention the names of the VVIPs on the dais. Just by showing respect to the crowd and the functionary president they can start the speech. That will save time. By saying ladies and gentlemen the speech can be started. Nobody will object to such kind of speech. Imagine the number of speaker is five. 50 minutes are gone without doing anything when they mention the names of the dignitaries on the dais. But the programme which starts from 10 am is to be completed before 12.30 pm by which time the stomach will start churning. Commoners have to return home and take the lunch. They came early without eating anything. If these introductory speeches are removed and speaker decides to go with flying start time will not only be saved the speech will also be interesting to hear. We hear quite often during the onset of a function announcers making frequent announcement “we are running behind schedule”. The time lost can be made up by shortening the speech. Every speaker ought to know that. Some organisers also foolishly attempt to add speech programme of the VIP before the start of the film release or rock show. The VIPs themselves ought to know that the speech is not necessary though the organiser out of fear or respect add such programme. We have seen quite often the VIPs being booed by crowd for making long speech. It was a funny scene a speaker locked in verbal duel with listeners for not hearing his speech. The mob like crowd almost shunted him out. Do not think of speaking before the start of such programme. Even the best speaker will be rejected. The blame for the poorly arranged programme will fall on the speaker. All these political parties have oratory skilled leaders. If they speak at such programme what will they receive from the crowd will be “stop it”. A change needs to be brought in. It can be started when the speakers whoever they are realise what the crowd wants to hear.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/function-attended-by-vip/

The difference is quite clear

Some of these Ministers and MLAs of the Congress party are interesting to watch. Some others are boring. Many of them cannot assert. They wait for the Chief Minister to dictate on what they should do. Chief Minister O. Ibobi might be having troubled time in convincing them the the path they should adopt at par witrh the policies and programmes of the Government. The speech made by Ibobi the other day at the Congress Bhavan was heart warming to hear. Hearing the speech one feels we have a Government that cares one and all. He opened his heart that day and said “ I weep when I win election and laugh out when I lose. I know how much people expect from the Government. I also know the little a Government can perform, which cannot fulfil the dwsire of the masses.” He also said when Congress party swept the polls last year he immersed his face in the pillow and cried profusely. How will the Government reciprocate the love and confidence showered on the party by the voters, that haunts the mind of the ruling party. Large number of mega projects had been taken up in the past one decade since Ibobi led Government was installed. Congress party created a record when it won the election for the three consecutive terms. The other non Congress parties will find it an uphill task in attempting to emulate this record. Why it happens Congress continues to sweep the poll. Opposititon parties as they attempt to snatch power from Congress must attempt to realise where lies the weakness of the non Congress parties. Congress party centres on a family that has maximum sacrifice for keeping a united nation. Jawaharlal Nehru set a record ;eading the party to a straight victory forming the Government continuously for three terms since then no party has been able to emulate the record. Then came Indira Gandhi, who was killed by terrorists. Her son Rajiv Gandhi also former prime Minister was killed by terrorists belonging to LTTE. If they had made sacrifices by dying Sonia Gandhi who was given mandate by the people of the country to rule also made sacrifices by refusing to be the Prime Minister of the country. Does any of these political parties have the leader of theire stature. Non Congress parties can rule, no doubt about that. But their probem is their inability to groom up a leader who can pull the masses. This is a lesson that must be learnt by all.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/the-difference-is-quite-clear/

The AFSPA context

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A report entitled ‘Manipur: Memorandum on Extrajudicial Summary or Arbitrary Executions’ collated and later, submitted by the Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights in Manipur and the UN to the UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Summary or Arbitrary Executions, Christof Heyns during his visit to India mentioned that altogether 1528 people, including 31 women and 98 children were killed in fake encounters by security forces in Manipur between 1979 and May, 2012. Of these, 419 were killed by the Assam Rifles, while 481 were killed by combined teams of Manipur Police and central security forces, according to the report. The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 enacted as a short-term measure to allow the deployment of the army in India’s northeastern Naga Hills has been in existence for five decades over the entire North Eastern States of the country and Jammu & Kashmir and the violations on human lives and security. The impunity that the AFSPA has given to central security forces, what it has meant for the people in the state of Manipur and other states have been well documented: both in numbers and in terms of testimonies. In Manipur, it was the people of the hills of this small state that first bore the burnt of AFSPA. Later on, the valley would also suffer. But what the figures don’t reveal is that most of the men who were killed were in the prime of their lives and left behind widows and children.

What the figures of those killed or ‘disappeared” under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act don’t say is that combing operations, questioning, threats and harassment under cover of the Act leaves a fragile sense of security and has a bearing on the freedom of people to move around. While women are affected while setting out of their homes in search of livelihoods, the children of this state have grown up without knowing what security and safety is, without access to basic health and education facilities following the threat from the hugely militarized environment around them with even security forces occupying educational institutions in certain cases. In Manipur, women in both the hills and plains have come out in response to the excesses committed under the Act and to protest against the excesses committed by security personnel. Through their own women collectives, they come out on the streets in times of public protests and take up night patrols besides also picketing army camps to verify whether those picked up are civilians and at times, not budging from their positions till the surety is given that those picked up are not tortured. Often, women groups stay up late into the nights after taking care of their household and other social obligations, going without proper sleep or rest. The story of the children of Manipur, are told in the many instances of sit in protests taken out by children: the same children who should ideally be in classes or in the safe confines of their home and playgrounds. Young children grow up under the shadow of guns and violence around them while the older ones take part in various protests, thereby severely putting them in conflict with security personnel and triggering off a sense of alienation and distrust.

The PIL to the Supreme Court, filed jointly by Extra-judicial Execution Victim Families’ Association Manipur (EEVFAM), a body of widows and mothers of those killed by police and security forces and Human Rights Alert pleaded for investigations into 63 cases of alleged extra-judicial killings between 2007 and 2012 and another 1,528 cases documented by the Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights in Manipur and the United Nations is just the beginning of efforts from various civil society groups and Human Rights defenders to put the spotlight on the excesses committed under the Act. Following the PIL, the Supreme Court constituted a three member enquiry commission with former Supreme Court judge, Justice N. Santosh Hegde, as the Chairman which in its report to the Apex Court has already made its observation that the 6 cases it was given to hear out were all fake. The Supreme Court had given the Manipur state Government a duration of four weeks to make its responses following the report of the Inquiry Commission and with the date coming nearer, it will be yet another step towards the long wait for justice and yet another strong validation of just how much the Act impacts the lives of countless women and children in the state.

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Inspection must cover nature of payment

Estimate committee of the state assembly has done a wonderful job by making on the spot assessment of the work done by the Government officials. After exposure by a news paper the committee made surprise visit to the godown of the GAD. They had known the under hand dealing between the suppliers and officials of the department. Newly bought carpets were in the godown and the missing if any were those that had been used during the VVIPs’ visit to the state. That implies something wrong was done. Yesterday construction of the national highway road was inspected. Officials in charge of the road had trouble time in explaining to the members of the committee why they could not follow the rules and procedures laid down in the rule book in the up gradation of the highway roads. The members of the committee were very smart and they quizzed the engineers why earth work was done at the area where it was not necessary at all. This is a new phenomenon employed in the allocation of work order. No contractor is willing to take road development work unless earth work is added in the work order. The cut at various levels starting from SO up to the highest level plus extra cut for unknown elements empty contractors’ pocket. But a contract work is done to make some money. Poor contractors fume when they get the bill. Shameless officials demand heavy cut without knowing whether the contractors have made any gain. The estimate committee as it inspects the construction work and supply done by contractor should try to know whether the contractors had actually received payment for the work done. Under an ambitious project retaining walls at the major rivers of the state including Nambul River was done in the recent past. Nobody cares about the poor contractors, who mortgaged even the homestead land for taking up the construction work. Now they lament having joined the construction spree. They regret had they known the payment would not be prompt they would not have done the work. In future none will come out for doing retaining wall construction. They had tasted the pang caused by inhuman attitude shown by engineers. They do not want to suffer again. The poor contractors were made fools. They spent sleepless night supervising the work done by labours. At the end they have turned out to be the real losers. Sadder is the fact that the engineers at the time of making some payment ridicule them for not bringing bribe money. Estimate committee should inspect how these engineers are thriving like lion devouring helpless animals.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/inspection-must-cover-nature-of-payment/

An equal and opposite reaction

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The death of a 22-year old native girl in her rented flat at Malviya Nagar in New Delhi is unfortunate but along with the charge of ‘insensitivity’ that is being foisted on the Malviya Nagar police for not taking down an FIR with regard to the case, the same charge should also hold true of all the people who are sharing the photographs of the dead girl in various social networking sites and some local newspapers published here. When cases of people of the state being killed or molested takes place in another state of the country, there is an immediate cry of ‘injustice’ with a convenient collective amnesia over the state of the safety of citizens of the state and its women. People and groups will converge to call for justice while social networking sites will see pages being created where there will be rants. But something of the same nature happens in the state and apart from JACs that will be in agitation mode for some time, the matter dies a death in course of time. What lies forgotten is that the metros of the country are no safe place with rising number of crimes. A casual scan of the national papers will all too clearly tell the story of how cities and metros are becoming safe haven for crimes being committed: against natives of that particular state or against those coming in from outside as the workforce of the place or as students seeking education. The horrific Delhi rape case that left a 23 year old paramedical student dead and a nation stunned was in fact not someone from Delhi but someone who like the many people who go from our own state and from the region to other places for ‘something better’. She was from neighboring Uttar Pradesh. The point here is not to make light of the death of the 22 year old state native but to emphasize that crime is not restricted to who it is committed against and neither can the condemnation of the crime after seeing who it is being committed against.

Take the case of the Delhi gang rape incident, which led to people of all walks of life coming together to say that ‘enough is enough’. Tellingly enough, even as candle light memorials and rallies were taken out across most parts of the country calling for exemplary punishment of the six accused in the Delhi case last year, there was no whimper in the state. There was not a single group or civil society group that came forth then to add voice to the call going around the country then. This sense of convenience when something touches our own and total indifference for the very same thing when it happens to someone else is disconcerting and says a lot of our own role and the lack of responsibility and our understanding of the larger scheme of things. Rather, this clamor to play the role of the accuser plays out to an atrocious level where it leads to an indirect party of the very ‘insensitivity’ that we so easily accuse others of. The sharing of photos of the deceased in the Malviya Nagar case is in total bad taste and it cannot just be explained away by saying that the photos are proof of what may actually have happened with the girl. A social network is definitely not the forum to share pictures of such a sensitive situation as such forums are open and do not have any strictures of privacy. Those using the pictures to rally people sentiment and opinions on the case must realize that the family members of the girl are still going through a period of grief and mourning along with trying to get the Delhi police authorities to undertake due investigations. There is something called privacy that people need to take into account. Voices of support can be gathered without the use if the said photos in question. There must be a consensus too on building voices against crimes and on the lack of proper legal and police processes per se. Total silence when crimes happen to other people, other places is a poor reflection of our own accountability. By the same yardstick, we cannot question why there is a lack of interest when our own ends up as a victim of a crime in someone else’s backyard.

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The ailing health status

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Manipur is now making a case for being a medical tourism destination to its neighboring states and even Myanmar. The wealth of expertise of the doctors is not be doubted and it is on the basis of their experience and acumen that there are cases where patients from other neighboring states do get in to the state to seek treatment here or where doctors fly out to serve on private consultation is private health care settings. But is the state a role model in terms of health care? That is the one question that needs a deeper analysis. There are new entries in the private health sector that have up-scaled the level of infrastructure and increased more institutional health care. The growing number of private hospitals and diagnostic and the number of footfall in such institutions is an indicator that just as the number of health care delivery systems are growing, so too are the health related needs of the general population. But the entry of private players in the health sector even as it has ushered in better standards of care has also meant that a majority of these doctors have unethically devoted their time and attention while also enjoying the perks of a government job. In fact, it is increasingly common to have doctors asking patients seeking treatment in Government hospitals to come for the check ups in their own homes where they practice on a private basis or to come in to private hospitals where they get a second salary. And even as doctors employed by the Government carry a double life in private health care set ups, the Government hospitals do not give confidence to people coming to seek either information, medical diagnosis or treatment. To begin with, the state of hospital infrastructure is a dead give-away: crumbling walls washed with spit and tobacco juice is not going to help when it comes to making a first good impression. Apart from the state of buildings, a common man stepping into such a spectacle is almost always left at a loss trying to make sense of where he/she has to go and whom he/she has to meet. As with most Government employees who have the false impression that they are answerable to their concerned seniors or VIPS, the attitude of service providers at Government hospitals in the state are indifferent at most and rude for the rest of the time.

Compare this to the private health sector in the state where there are information counters and easy lay out guides informing where one can and must go. The difference of course is that private health sector looks at good public relations and customer satisfaction and loyalty. They know that the customer, who in this case is a likely patient has to go back satisfied for that will bring in word of mouth publicity and a huge chance of repeat walk ins. In the Government health sector, employees know their salary is assured at the end of the month even if their performance is shoddy and their attitude towards patients unhelpful. Unfortunately enough, the common man is most often, not in a position to seek services or treatment for their health related issues in private health care settings due to steep pricing. This is where the alarm bells go off every time there is talk of a PPP model in certain health care sector units of the state. There is fear and rightly so, that while private players will end up getting more subsidies from the Government in terms of land acquisition or terms of leash or rent, in terms of acquiring other infrastructure etc under a PPP model, they may end up making health unaffordable for the common man. But if the terms of the PPP model in the upcoming health sector units of the state are legally bound to make the cost of treatment and diagnosis in these institutes stay the same as Government health care units, there will be a strong public rally behind the move. Right now, a lot more needs to be done for the people of the state first before hawking the state’s health services before others. The citizens of the state must be first in line and only when they are satisfied with the quality, nature and treatment that is offered to them at rates that do not pinch their pockets can the state’s health sector really be used as a model for bringing in other people to the fold.

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A section of the society

Living together with hard working young men and having talked to them one can conjecture what is sweeping in the minds of the energetic young men. They give damn to all these policies and programmes announced by the Government. For instance they do not hanker for getting job card under MGNREGA. The amount for doing 100 days work under the scheme is too small, they say. They think the amount given under the scheme will not be able to feed him and those dependent on him. Such young men think they must earn not less than Rs 500. So they are prepared to do any kind of job given to them. When they talk among themselves they compete their ability to earn money in a single day. Such young men put up at rented house. The rent charge, which stands around Rs 400 is manageable. One among them boastfully claims the land lord charges only Rs 300 from him as he helps the owner in cleaning the surrounding areas. Back at home they have extended family members who run poultry, piggery and pisciculture farms. They are not moody. The mobile phones in their possession keep blaring latest songs of films both Hindi and Manipuri. Even the well to do family members remains concerning their future. As if the future is dark for them they remain worrying for the young children. An engineer, who owns palatial building and vast areas of paddy field talks of future that in his opinion, is bleak. Inserting money in pocket he said we will not be getting pension. What about those, who do not get anything from the Government? But a Government exists to serve the entire people living in the country. Policies have to be framed to take care of these young men and women, who cannot get Government job. The system of extending loans and grants to the unemployed sections must be revived. They must survive. If these workers do not talk about future, they do not know what future means to them. They are also thinking men. They might be seeing in their dream a cosy lifestyle they can lead. Yes it is true there is no substitute to hard work. If they are happy now, it is because they work hard. The moment they decide to stop to work they will be starving. They know it. They need protection.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/a-section-of-the-society/

Media`s weak spots

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Given the growth of the media in the country in terms of its reach and the manner in which it shapes opinion, it gets to a point where it becomes imperative to take stock of the nature of media coverage in the context of various issues. One layer of the media scrutiny and area of discussion is on whether women journalists bring a different perspective while reporting on issues that are related to various forms of violence against women. While it is true that a journalist’s main duty is to report first and then follow up with additional reports, analysis and opinion pieces regardless of the beat and the issue that is being covered, it goes without saying that the social and cultural norms often come in the way of male journalists being able to get women to talk with them and share their experiences. This is more pronounced when the subject of a story happens to be women who have been subject to sexual violence and even holds true for women who may want to address areas of sexual reproductive health.

Having said this, there are various aspects to media representation of reportage on violence against women since media mindsets are also patriarchal in nature. Along with this of course, media houses operate in ways that are dictated by market forces and sensationalism. The later is true particularly of electronic media where the race is for a greater effort to render ‘breaking news’ that may well end up being more provocative in terms of content and language. The other end of the spectrum in media coverage are the language papers that often falls out of the loop of being scanned by media watch groups and hence escape censure or being engaged upon for their style of coverage. One more increasing truism is the nature of what is an issue of ‘national importance’ given that what happens in Delhi often ends up being discussed, dissected and acted upon. While the nature of laws for protection of women was always an area of importance, it took the brutal case of the Delhi gang rape incident to bring things to a head. No other incidences of other brutal rapes have got the attention or engagement inside and outside of media circles earlier. This attitude may be what is keeping the matter of security excesses that led to violence on women in heavily militarized states including the North eastern states, Kashmir, Chhattisgarh and others being taken up with the seriousness it deserves. The spurt of ‘sensitive’ media coverage of sexual violence against women in any case did not have much commentary on the ways and means by which women in trouble torn areas of the country were being violated sexually and left without any recourse to justice. When the Justice Verma recommendations were placed before the Government, the area on the impunity that armed forces resort to were left out out totally and in essence can only mean that women in the areas where the security forces are given impunity by law, can continue to be violated.

As much as it is imperative that media reports with fairness and in keeping with what is ‘current’, it is critical that there are continuous efforts to study media reportage to be able to take stock of what is going right and what isn’t. While many point out an ‘increasing media sensitive reporting’ by taking the case of the growing spotlight on crimes against women, there are other pointing out rightly so, that current media interpretation is primarily on the brutality that women face and that there is no attempt to look at ways and means of creating media spaces for what leads to such incidences and what can be done about them. In a constantly changing world, it is just as important that the media also grows out of its traditional role of being a mere reporting and informing medium but grows into a space for spreading sensitivity and engaging in looking at solutions. It is only apt that the media output, which is today consumed at every point of our lives also factor in the growing needs of the society it operates in.

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Forget everything concentrate on your surrounding

Everyone knows what flop means. Yet they do not find time and occasion for using this word. Today I will be using this word in describing the performance of the engineers of the engineering departments of the Government of Manipur. Why they waste time without doing anything. If they do not have fund for repairing of roads or for construction of bridges they must think of demanding it from the Government. On The contrary they remain waiting for cut from the poor contractors. Think what is ailing the state and its people. If you have the gut just conduct a simple survey it will bring to light who is buying precious land and building in the heart of Imphal city. A state exists to serve interest of all including those who have nothing to support themselves. Why this food security bill is being introduced. It is being implemented to take care of the most unfortunate people of the country. Congress party having ruled the state for more than 11 years in the state might have known what is afflicting the state and its people. The man neighbouring me does not have not anything to support himself and those dependent on him. But he wants a Government that will be lasting and that will understand the sufferings of the masses. Can you hear the voice that is feeble that is not loud. Think for the masses. They cannot do anything even for their well being. 80 percent of the people are poor people. They cannot collect even the rice allotted to them. This is a very serious situation. It you talk to them you will understand how many of our people are languishing. But a Government survives to make everyone happy. This should be taken as a direct appeal to the men at the helm of affairs. Enough is enough. We expect something that is for the betterment of the society,

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/forget-everything-concentrate-on-your-surrounding/

Laughter is serious business

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Laughter, a basic expression of human emotions is now no longer confined to personal and social spaces but is now being tapped in by various researchers and practicing doctors the world over. But not many would know that there is something called gelotology, derived from the Greek word ‘gelos’, meaning laughter, which refers to the study of humor and laughter, its psychological and physiological effects on the human body. This field of study was pioneered by an American psychiatrist Dr William F. Fry of Stanford University who sounded out on the use of laughter on therapeutic grounds in aiding patients recuperating or suffering from stress disorders and as after-care following cardiac related surgeries. The seriousness given to laughter can also be seen in academic, philosophical and intellectual discourses starting from the times of Herodotus to Hobbes to Nietzsche and many others on the topic who have given the topic their serious thoughts. So far as the use of laughter therapy as an add on to continuing medical treatment was concerned, the lay man did not know much about it or gave the topic much thought. This, when stand up comic acts aimed at generating laughter was being used to bolster the mood in troop camps stationed in hostile environments and even during the course of wars. The English-born American comedian and multi faceted artist Bob Hope made numerous tours to entertain war troops during the Second World War with his stand up comic acts and was so appreciated for his efforts that the 1996, the U.S. Congress declared him the “first and only honorary veteran of the U.S. armed forces”.

Even as some in the medical fraternity took to turning into the therapeutic powers of laughter as an aid in their medical treatment, the public were not too aware of this aspect till the entry of a Hollywood film called Patch Adams that starred American actor Robin Williams. Loosely based on the real life story of Dr. Hunter “Patch” Adams, the film was the story of a medical student who uses humor to deal with every situation in his life and the people around him much to the chagrin of the medical fraternity. The film brought in elements of drama and fiction and showed the main character going on to set up a hospital, which treated patients without medical insurance, which incidentally is a prerequisite in the US and where elaborate comedy skits would be staged as part of therapy. In real life, Dr. Hunter “Patch” Adams pioneered the Gesundheit! Institute in 1971, which like the film story revolves around treating patients with a focus on laughter as an integral element of effective doctoral care. The real Adams through his Institute organizes a group of volunteers from around the world to travel to various countries where they dress as clowns in an effort to bring humor to orphans, patients, and other people. In the past, the Gesundheit! Institute has taken clowns into war zones in Bosnia, refugee camps in the Republic of Macedonia, as well as orphanages in South Africa.

In India, the idea of laughter therapy is not popular even though a very popular Hindi film was made that took up the idea of how humor could be used as an integral part of the medical world where injuries, illness, pain, grieving and even death could be less burdensome when tackled with a dose of humor and laughter. Though the film was a huge commercial success, there is no actual real life example of the story. Except for laughter clubs in a few metro cities where people gather in groups to exercise and use practiced steps to induce laughter as a stress beating mechanism, humor and laughter remain confined merely as an entertainment track in films and dramas. Unfortunately, the standard of comedy in films has of late touched a low with slapstick humor, innuendo and jarring set pieces.

Manipur today does not have much reason to laugh. The civic state of affairs has gone for a toss with traffic jams, water logged streets, overflowing drains, power outages and electric wires threatening to fall down at any time. Unfortunately enough, the films and dramas/shumang leelas that are being produced and shown today are mere imitations of the very nature of slapstick and contrived comedy that one sees in Hindi films. At one point of time, we had a sub culture of ‘epoms’ that has died completely now where at the most, three actors would take on various roles without getting into character get ups and go on an endless rendition of comical repartees full of satire and humor that would also be a commentary on the socio-political-cultural lives of people. And because we are so starved of humor and laughter, we need to get serious about them both!

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