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Front Page >> Opinions > Story

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Integrity, What For?
By K Leuho
Sometimes facts are not the truth. The fact is that Manipur is a land inhabited by the Meiteis and the tribals. But the truth is that tribals are not seen as Manipuris. To an outsider, the Meiteis & tribals are the people of Manipur. To an insider, the tribals are the lesser known people of indistinct identity. It is a basic concept that every community in a State gets equal opportunity and a fair share in the developmental works of a Government. The very purpose of forming a state was long defeated if we dig into the past and analyze the present situation of Manipur. From the very beginning, the majority group always takes the suppressive method when it comes to dealing with the tribals of Manipur.

Political suppression:

Just that Rishang Keishing was the longest serving CM of Manipur, does not mean that the tribals get a fair and equal opportunity in developmental works of the State. If we are to analyze and solve the insanity besetting the state, it is a correct assumption that Government records can never be relied upon. For Government records may say one thing and the ground reality may be another thing. If we are to go by the standard of Government records, all the hills by now would have to be treated as a self sufficient, flourishing area. No more in need of further loans, grants, subsidies and schemes. The amounts released in the name of development of the hills are more than sufficient for the population there. By now, the land in the hills should be flourishing and there should be overflow of surplus of agricultural produces, horticultural produces, forest produces etc. The ground reality is that tribals are caught in a sticky situation between survival and environment, economics & environment. The tribals go on clearing more and more forest area for Jhumming to feed the growing population and thus ecological balances are disturbed causing further hardship in the lives of the tribals by getting less rainfall, reduction of soil fertility, and destruction of bio-diversity without which man’s survival is at stake. It is an established fact that without the tiny insects, the giant trees and animals cannot survive. Thus, what is kept and maintained in Government records are not true and that does not help. Coming back to political suppression, there is a strange accusation from certain quarters that Rishang Keishing, during his tenure as the CM, worked only in the interest of the majority group to help him stay in power and to keep his CM chair secured. The Meiteis, however have a different notion. They have explained that RK being the longest CM of Manipur is a perfect example of the equal opportunity and the magnanimous attitude of the Meiteis. RK should be explainable to that. Whatever is the case, it is irrelevant, but the point is that nobody is working in the interest of the Hills tribals.

The majority group/Meiteis have fought tooth and nail against the implementation of Sixth Schedule (SS) in the hill districts of Manipur. What has SS got to do with the people of the valley? It is irrelevant for the Meiteis to talk about or against the implementation of SS in the hills when they are not even concerned. The Meiteis are against the SS on the pretext of protection of State integrity. Their fear is not genuine, it is borrowed. Thus integrity of the state of Manipur is the banking opportunity of the Meiteis against the tribals of Manipur. The writer of the article is not in favor or against the implementation of SS but the point is that the wishes and aspirations of the tribals are sidelined in the interest of the Meiteis. This is clear indication of the political suppression of the tribals. The welfare of the tribals is sacrificed at the political tune of the Meiteis who have 40 members in the State Assembly, out of the 60 seats.

Now, that tribal population in the hills has increased many folds, and the population of the Meiteis is more or less the same in the last 10 years, five Assembly seats have to be allocated to the hills accordingly whose population has increased according to the latest 2001 census. But the majority designed a policy for a recensus. The GOI yield to the pressure tactics and a recensus was conducted where the five seats to be allocated was reduced to three seats. Some writers have even used the term “to be gifted away” regarding the 5 seats to be allocated to the hills as per the increase in the population of the hill people. Mind you, these are not gifts, if they really are gifts, then the tribals have the option not to accept and who knows, tribals may reject the gifts. But these are Constitutional rights that cannot be gifted away even to the valley people. They are now comfortable with 37 seats for the valley and 23 seats for the hills. We should also learn to fight like the Meiteis to rectify the injustice because this is too much. If the 1st census was wrong, what can be the credibility of the 2nd census/recensus? If the 1st census was really wrong, then the 2nd census recensus is also wrong. A 3rd census/recensus will also be wrong. Man, let us learn to assert our rights. They have also taught us a very effective means of protesting against our Government, burning things. Sometime I feel sorry as well as grateful that tribals have learnt the art of burning Govt. buildings during the ANSAM economic blockade. This time I am sure many contractors can make a fortune rebuilding them. Thanks for giving the politicians & the contractors the opportunity. We are also thankful for that a few Ministers and the Governor of Manipur have paid a visit to the burnt sites. This is encouraging. Had there been no burning, they would never have to visit the hills. But of late, shouting for seat reduction will have to take the backstage, with the agenda of non implementation of the Delimitation taking the center stage. The first insult was the denouncing of the 1st census and the second insult is the reduction of the seat to be allocated. The third insult is the resolution of non implementation of the Delimitation. It seems the people are really doing a thorough job. If I am not wrong, anybody could do further research on the above topics and earn a good position in the history of time.

Development suppression:

When we talk of development suppression, it covers the entire bad thing going on in the hills. There are no proper roads/all weather roads in the hills. If I am not wrong there are less than 300 kms of all weather roads in Ukhrul district. The case is more or less the same for all the districts. The road development in the hills is very less with comparison to our existence. If we take into account the years from 1947 - 2005, it is more than 55 years by now and at that rate it is about 6 kms/year of all weather roads. This is not very impressive. In the educational development too, things are at its lowest possible state. There is only potential energy in respect to the educational systems in the hills. The kinetic energy is missing. Kids & children are available, school buildings and few properties not worth mentioning are available but the requisite teaching materials & manpower are missing. The kinetic energy are all transferred to the valley where they are least needed, for reasons best known to them. The lack of good education in the hills is most disastrous in which the Meitei teachers posted in the hills are explainable. They want the post, salary but not the development of the hill people. They want development of the valley only. Politicians in the valley also accounted for the educational problems of the hill by influencing to appoint less dedicated teachers. This time too, nothing new may be expected. Let us wait and see. It is rightly said that industries and factories are the backbone of modern economy, but the hills are also left behind in this front. It is very surprising to note that all industries and factories are concentrated in the valley when you find all the raw materials in the hills. If raw materials are abundant in an area, it is not unusual that industries and factories are also found at the site. However, the opposite is true in case of Manipur. In fact, the hills are richer in natural resources but production units are found only in the valley. What can be the explanation? If securities measures are taken into account, the valley is no safer from any point of view. Thus, it is clear that Meiteis are Imphal centric.

They are ethnocentric too. They will even go to the extent that anything from Manipur is world class. Even when they see a beautiful boy in a remote hilly area, they will give the comment that the boy is not like a Hao but like a Meitei. They see the whole world in a narrow scope of the Meitei world. This may seem irrelevant with the topics, but the point here is that Meiteis should discard their chauvinistic approach when it comes to dealing with other communities.

If the Meitei way of thinking that, “to cheat someone of his wealth is wise”, is not rectified, then the woes besetting the State can never end. More and more innocent tribals may be cheated but that will worsen the social entropy of the people of Manipur. Naga integration or no integration, social dissatisfaction with the Meiteis is one important factor for the tribals to do away with the Meiteis and the State of Manipur if and when possible. Like it or not, that’s the truth.

If we take a deep introspection on Manipur, Imphal is the only place livable. The rest is horrible. All modern amenities are found only at Imphal. Imphal, being the capital, should be developed but that is not an alibi for neglecting the rest. Sports developments and facilities, stadiums, TV, Radio, postal services, drinking water, Telegram, phones, hospitals, electricity, internet etc should also be a part of the life of the tribals. These things, I guess we are not asking for the moon.

Actions needed:

If we are truly a man of will and action, nothing is impossible or impossible is nothing, both are true. Men have climbed the highest mountain; men have gone down to the abyss of the seas. We have conquered the moon, we have conquered the atoms. We have calculated the universe to seconds just after the big bang. In certain field much progress is made but in certain fields, all is still in the dark. It is not that they cannot be learnt, but it is that we are not trying enough. If we invest our efforts a little more, then things here in our part of the world can also improve. Things are bound to change. No force can stop changes but if we are wise we can direct the changes to something positive. The wind of change can be destructive but can also be constructive by tapping the energy for something good for one and all. For all the evils of our State, I am 100% sure that corruption is the root cause. Much has been written about the corruption practices in Manipur but things are not improving. To strike where it is most effective, can be one practical way to reduce and ultimately control corruption. The first and foremost step is to abolish contract system of work in state departments. The departments where contract works are given to contractors have become the haven for all the infamous politicians and workers to cash upon for their next election. Insurgency is a, blessing in disguise to the politicians, workers, contractors etc. Insurgent groups may be easily blamed for all the failures & missing account in the State records. Nobody is losing; everybody is in a win-win situation. Only the poor, unconnected, hard working, sincere people are left helpless. Democracy in Manipur is a license for the contractors, politicians & their workers to loot the public and the State’s coffer.

In the meantime, we, the public should also realize that unfair means during elections are breeding mo-re corruption in the higher ups. We should start cleaning our rot by tracing where the entire politician’s money has come from. Once contract system of work is abolished, the political allure would fade among the younger generations. Thus the energy of the youths can be diverted to other useful productive works. If political allure loses its luster, youths will be automatically inclined to work and produce. Dignity of labor will find a new meaning otherwise dignity of labor is nonsense with respect to the present chaos.

Bureaucrats in the State are painted with political colors. This is most unfortunate. If State machineries are apolitical, then one can expect something fair, but if they are used in such a way as one political party sees it fit, things are bound to go from bad to worst.

It is open secret that many top officials are clipped and cannot perform as he /she deemed fit. Deep down in their heart, they know who actually is the anti-people, pro-insurgents are. Leaders meant and chosen for the welfare of the people are becoming leaders of political parties only. They can hardly see anything beyond the myopic eye of the party principles.

They would work for the party & for themselves with the least regard for the people. Public issues that can really make a hoarse, foul sound will only be considered at the last unavoidable moments. Thus they resort to minimum possible extend to the general public. It takes a lot of unthinking for the welfare of the people to be a politician in Manipur. Such reactionary politics and politicians should be voted out once and for all. It is a surprise that no one revolt. Politicians are giving us all the problems when they should have nipped in the bud. It is high time we demand something positive, something that others are getting in other parts of our country and in other parts of the world. If politicians find it hard to provide all our demands, that should be a good start. They must have headache for the welfare of the people like the big ones they have for their party and themselves. Giving headache to the politicians for the people’s welfare is a sure way of incorporating the public’s interest in their way of thinking.

One can start from small things and gradually increase the momentum and see the results. Within few years, I am sure political party’s color and color of the people’s interest would mix to give a new breed of politicians. Let’s be optimistic. Changes are absolute.

Lastly but not the least, the people should be well armed to fight the evils besetting our state. To go in to a battle field, Guns are needed. To solve social problems, education of the people is imperative. Politicians and so called leaders are banking on the ignorance of the people. They are not truly interested in the education of the people. If everyone is well informed, nobody can be bullied. The politicians and leaders therefore likes to fish in trouble water. If the water is clean nobody bites the bait and this explains the lack of transparency in politicians’ dealings. The people of Manipur should be more concerned with all these problems that we face. Integrity of the state is secondary, compared to the enormous tasks before us. The million dollar question is, “Integrity, what for?” Integrity should not be for integrity’s sake.

Integrity should be meaningful; Integrity should be for equality and equal opportunity. Integrity should be for equal development, Integrity should be for peace and harmony. Nobody is claiming that tribals are not Manipuris but the Meiteis. The Meiteis have shown to the world that Meiteis are Manipuris and tribals are a group of non-distinct identity. Meiteis have the instinct that Manipur is the land of the Meiteis and nothing to do with the tribals. Their very act of discrimination in development, discrimination in equal opportunity have given us the message that tribals were never (need not be) Manipuris. If the majority people still think that they are right and we are wrong, then the land called Manipur must be the area of the valley only. The hills really don’t look like the valley in terms of development, infrastructures, culture & tradition, attitude etc. If the hills were really in Manipur, there ought to be homogenous growth in development and attitude. Cosmetic make-up in development and attitude never work. Nothing but the real will work.

It is no one but you alone, who can solve the problems. It is no more profitable to blame on the Centre for all the woes of our State. If we are prepared for altruism, good things will follow naturally. We get what we deserve. Nothing more can be drawn than what we deposited/perspired.

The present chaos is the product of our misdeeds of yesteryears. Past mistakes must be acknowledged but that is not enough. Immediate remedial actions should follow. The past represent the hollowness of our hill-valley relationships. The future should be nothing less than homogenous growth of the hills and the valley. Then nobody needs to worry about integrity, integrity will take its own course. Integrity cannot be forced; it is to be achieved. The silver lining is that the golden age of our history lies in the future. And this is what I called “worth dying for”.

(Courtesy: The Sangai Express)

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