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Make IMC a civic body
Even as the lower staff of the Imphal Municipal Council are finding it hard to clear the garbage that continues to pile up in Imphal city areas with each passing day, it's chairperson Ph Guneshwor is facing a no-confidence motion moved by opposition councilors for the second time in less than six months on April 27. The first was moved in December last year. It provoked a similar motion from ruling councilors against the vice chairperson Kamalatombi Devi and finally both the motions were withdrawn after the ruling and the opposition councilors reached an agreement. The situation may, however, be different this time.
The opposition United Councilors Front has claimed that four ruling councilors have joined it reducing the strength of the ruling United Civic Front to just 12. They are also confident of garnering the support of 15 councilors in the no-confidence vote. Moreover, Chief Minister 0 Ibobi Singh is understood to have extended his support to -Brajakishwor whom the vice chairperson has supported.
Guneshwor is currently holding power with the support of 16 councilors was candid in criticizing the opposition for moving the motion and had termed the action as undemocratic. He even went to the extent of pointing out that there were certain flaws in the Imphal Municipalities Act which gave freedom to the opposition councilors to move a no trust motion in less than six 'months. Whether Guneshwor made the statement with the sole intent of maintaining a stable council so that welfare programs for the public could be taken up, or as a defense ploy to remain in power is another thing. What needs to be stressed is that the IMC needs to be kept marginalized as a civic body that will look after the Imphal municipal area and the welfare of the public in general. Unfortunately, politics has made it way into the veins of the IMC which is not a positive sign. The public will be loser only.
It is not only the Chief Minister who has jumped into the power battle within the IMC. Leaders of other political parties are also in it. Should Chief Minister O Ibobi indulge in petty politics leaving aside all the problems currently facing the State just for the power tussle inside the civic body? There needs to be some divergent thinking.
The IMC is a corporation which has a yearly income of just around Rs 10 lakhs including Octroi tax. Not much fund is earmarked in the State Budget. For its successful functioning, the council has to earn its own income. The non-payment of salaries of the lower staff has been a lingering issue which had resulted in cease-work strikes by the employees. The council needs to first strengthen its base. It will not be wrong to say that the councilors maybe being blinded by the lure of power, acted a little wayward manner. What they should also realize that payment of their honorariums and the wages of the employees depends on the successful functioning of the council and not on who holds the reigns of power. The dirt inside the IMC needs to be cleaned first before the IMC cleans the city.
(Courtesy: The Sangai Express)
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