Rights and duty (December 17)

Let us forget, our rights for the moment if we can, and ponder over our duty and responsibility as a citizen towards the State. When we demand our rights we should also remember our duties. We cannot isolate duty separately while asking for our rights. The two should go together and not separately. 

Should we continue to demand only rights as a citizen and responsible person in the helm of State affairs no progress will come? Each and everyone living in Manipur have his/her duty and responsibility as much as they have their rights. 

Teachers, Government employees, common people etc. have different roles to play towards building not only infrastructure, roads, schools, hospitals, public buildings and basic requirements of the people, but also developing human resource development. Of these human resource development is the most important. A society, which could not develop human resource, can also never march forward. 

Hence the role of the teacher and parents could never be overemphasized. It is a good sign that a debate has been started about bringing quality education in the State. The debate should not be allowed to die without finding the logical end. For a considerable period of time the State has been neglecting education. 

The result is there for all to see. A class five passed old man will say with contempt that most of today's graduates do not how to write an application correctly. Such common reference is not without foundation. We pay more attention on quantity than quality. A farmer produces food grains for the people while construction workers and contractors have different roles to play towards State building.

While politicians, doctors, teachers and Government employees have their own responsibilities the people living in the State have also a role to play in maintaining a clean environment. We are the people who are living and will continue to live here. We should not act as if we are visiting the State and we will leave this place one day. As far as our awareness about maintaining a clean surrounding and environment is concerned we are very poor, to say the least.

Our knowledge of public hygiene is nil, even if we could maintain a clean and hygienic household. Just look at the way we are maintaining the capital city. Look at the way we are dirtying our own streets, localities, inter village roads, State highways, rivers and lakes. We are yet to feel the need of constructing and maintaining the environment. 

In Sikkim even a nursery student will dump waste papers in dustbins. In Manipur majority of the employees are now on strike demanding their rights. There is justification in making the demands. It will benefit the State and the people greatly if the employees, who are getting their rights also have a sense of responsibility and duty towards the State and the people.

(Courtesy: The Imphal Free Press)

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