| Finish the job
At first there is a sign of the presence of a semblance of governance under the
Central administration headed by the Governor Ved Marwah. After the political
mess and standstill in administration the recent measures taken by the present
administration has come as a whiff of fresh air to the suffocated people of
Manipur. The Governor is making surprise visits where development works are
being taken up. Officials who are found to be shirking responsibilities and
duties are promptly pulled up and taken to task.
Some recalcitrant officials have already been placed under suspension. Sections of the Government officials
have taken it for granted that they will escape punitive actions even if they
continue to neglect their duties and responsibilities. It is because of this
reason that those posted at places far from the State capital and other
districts are not attending their respective offices despite repeated complaints
by the people, who are supposed to be served by the officials.
Another sign of existence of a government in Imphal is to order CBI probes into various
scandals. The rice scandal, which rocked the State during the then RK Ranbir
Singh regime had been put into the cold storage by successive Governments. Now
that the CBI has reopened the case and one hopes that the investigation will
come to the logical end and all those involved in siphoning of a huge quantity
of rice meant for the poor and needy people are brought to book. Scandals after
scandals are piling up in Manipur in the last few years. The reason being that
not a single Government thought that it is responsibility to find the whole
truth, pull up the guilty so as to deter others from committing the same crime.
At the moment things are seemingly going smoothly as far as the probes are
concerned. And there are reports that the Government is all set to give the
sanction to the CBI to prosecute those connected with rice scandal. But there are
always ifs and buts. Manipur will go to the polls in February and by the end of
that month a new popular Ministry will be in place. Experience tells us that
once an elected Government comes all the scandals will be put in the cold
storage again and the initiatives taken by the present administration will be
buried. The problem lies here.
Hence the present administration is running against time, if it is really serious about punishing the guilty officials or
persons. The time is too short to finish the job. Hence people should see that
corruption becomes a big issue in this round of elections. They have the power
to ensure that the next elected Government takes up the unfinished task
initiated by the President's Rule. The politicians or for that matter those who
will be occupying ministerial chairs can encourage corruption and siphoning of
public money only in their peril. It is hoped that they will act as per the
wishes of the people for their own good.
(Courtesy: The
Sangai Express) |
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