Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Who will guard the Guards of Manipur?
Opinion by Babina Wahengbam
Who will protect us from the hands of dirty politicians & filthy militants?
The biggest fear rising in the minds of every single citizen of the state right now is who will protect and ensure safety of the people in Manipur. Almost all the top political leaders who have set itself up as the guardians of the public trust are rotten and corrupt to the core. All self-declared guardians of the state are dishonest or crooked at heart. Who then is to guard the guardians of the state?
We have a grave situation in Manipur in which personal accumulation of wealth have been closely tied to politicians backed by armed groups and vice-versa either through corruption or extortion. And since positions of leadership have been dominated by these individuals, the two vices of corruption and nepotism have become part of the daily vocabulary of many under our political system.
There is a crippling inability on the part of the political leadership to deal with this issue of militancy. Could it be that this inaction stems from the fact that we are expecting action to be taken from the very people that are corrupt? For, power can and does transform good men and women into corrupt and greedy leaders. And the victims of this struggle for spoils have obviously been the people of this state.
Why is our government doing nothing despite claiming of having concrete evidences of the particular militant organization involving in carrying out the recent bomb blast at Sangakpham that killed 5, including that of a father and son duo and 2 little innocent girls aged around 10 years? How can our state leaders just ignore when armed goons enjoy unbridled freedom to carry out brutal attacks on civilians in broad daylight and go scot-free?
ISTV news on 2nd August 2011 carried that, at a news conference held at New Delhi, Home Minister Chidambaram declared that the bomb attack at Sangakpham was done by the NSCN (IM). Why then is the Govt of India unable to take up any action? Or is it GOI’s one dirty strategy to intensify the ethnic clashes between the Nagas and the Meiteis?
Several organizations and associations condemned the Sangakpham blast, but surprisingly, none of the revolutionary groups cared to condemn the act nor tried to prevent such inhuman and barbaric act of planting bombs at busy market place. How can they just watch silently the half-torn bodies lying on the same soil like a piece of log? How can they just let NSCN (IM) plant a bomb in such public place and stay quiet, if at all the said outfit was behind the blast? Whether they realize it or not, but NSCN spat on the face of the many revolutionary organizations operating in the heart of Imphal by attacking the public right under their nose. The very statement given by NSCN (IM), “the fact that some groups in Manipur targeting innocent public in order to make their political statement has become a matter of grave concern” is rather a big shame for our meitei revolutionaries.
Refuting the allegations that NSCN was responsible for the blast at Sangakpham, the outfit also slaps the Govt of Manipur saying that the reaction of the Manipur government and its CM, Ibobi is nothing but an act of impropriety and recklessness, considering their irrational opposition to peace and the ongoing political dialogue between the government of India and the NSCN.
Officially or unofficially, NSCN (IM) has been carrying out its terror administration along with setting up offices in all the Naga inhabited districts of Manipur, although the ceasefire is not legitimately extended to the state. In a press statement published in The Sangai Express, Manipur Naga Revolutionary Front (MNRF) said the AC battalion of NSCN (IM) is at Phunchong in Chandel district, the NP battalion is in Oklong in Tamenglong district, Kishimung battalion is in Grehang village in Ukhrul district and Huthrong Brigade is in Senapati district. Moreover, NSCN (IM) has been openly collecting taxes at Mao Gate in Senapati, Pallel Gate in Chandel district, Litan Gate in Ukhrul district and at Noney in Tamenglong district, MNRF added.
Why then is the Govt of Manipur as well as the Govt of India giving a blind eye and deaf ear to this outfit? Is NSCN (IM) bigger than the state and central government? Is NSCN (IM) bigger than PLA, RPF, UNLF, PREPAK, KCP, KYKL, and the endless number of factions?
The government must not only have those responsible for Sangakham blast victims brought to justice immediately but also deactivate all militants who have become a law unto themselves in Manipur. So long as they are given freedom to act according to their whims, civilians will not be safe. It is high time they are dealt with appropriately. Else, attempts being made to rebuild Manipur are bound to fail. Needless to say development does not take root in a culture of impunity.
We can't accommodate terrorism. When someone uses the slaughter of innocent people to advance a so-called political cause, at that point the political cause becomes immoral and unjust and they should be eliminated from any serious discussion, any serious debate. Every leader, and every regime, and every movement, and every organization that steps across the line to terrorism must be banished from the discourse of civilized human life.
If the so called sons of the soil really want to build a new Kangleipak, then they should pull up their socks before the public starts protesting against them. They should stop slaughtering innocent people in the name of revolution before the public starts killing them morally. They should stop being the obstacle to the state’s development before the public throws them out of the very state they are fighting for. They hurl bombs and threaten anybody who refuses to pay them money but they can’t stand up and fight the infiltrators. If they can be the first to impose illegal tax and extort money in the name of the state’s welfare, how can they be the last on earth when it comes to protecting their own people?
Try as we should, the question that I want to pose is this: Is there any hope that we will ever root out corruption and terrorism in this new millennium? Does anyone out there in the corridors of power listening to us? Yes, perhaps they are but many of them not hearing!
The real epidemic in our state is poor political leadership, government economic mismanagement, corruption and insurgency. These are the causes of our continuing crisis and not much else. Accepting responsibility for one’s actions and for a system that has gone badly wrong is the starting point on the road to our economic recovery. I see this as the greatest challenge facing today.
And as civic society, we must continue to pile pressure on corrupt leaders so that in the end they do the honorable thing and resign from their positions of power whether they are politicians or self-declared guardians because the latter can be corrupt as well.
However, my faith in Manipur is strengthened by the fact that brave men will stand against any injustice and by my belief that the people of this state will never lack the leaderships of dynamic and dedicated men and women in the future.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Failure of Clinical Psychology Dept Means Failure of RIMS Authority
Opinion by Babina Wahengbam
"The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles, but to irrigate deserts." -- C. S. Lewis
There's not a single person who does not face mental stress as mental health problems are continuously rising owing to mounting pressure in personal/occupational or social domains across various sections of the society. Herein, the Clinical Psychologists play an important role for optimizing health care delivery system. Various techniques and methods derived from several branches of psychology are used in promotion of mental health, and in prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of mental and physical disorders or problems where psychological factors play a major role. Different methods and forms of psychological techniques are also used to ease an individual's emotional distress or any other forms of dysfunction or disability.
Mention may be made about the importance of the subject in context to Manipur's crisis torn situation, where most of the people face trauma of one mishap or the other. So in 2003, the Rehabilitation Council of India opened the M. Phil course in Clinical Psychology in collaboration with the Psychiatric Dept of RIMS to meet the demand for clinical psychologist for treatment and rehabilitation of mental and physical disorders. Not only is the dept one among the only 9 institutes offering M Phil course in India, it is also the sole institute in the whole of north east catering students from neighbouring states too.
On an average, the Clinical Psychology Dept delivers health service to a thousand annually, who are suffering from mental stress and victims of drug abuse. Most of these are from the labour class who cannot afford to go to rehab centres. The Dept also works in close coordination with the psychiatric dept from time to time as and when required providing assistance to each other. Apart from this, the dept also handle cases referred from other NGOs that deal with health issues.
And when there is an urgent need to train more number of professional clinical psychologists, speculation of closing down the dept has surfaced up just because there is no one to head the Dept. Earlier, RIMS had clarified against the said speculations saying that they have no intention to close it. But the fate of the Clinical Psychology Dept still hangs in mid air.
Unless the entrance test for the new batch is taken, how can the Dept continue to offer service to the people? Unless students are enrolled for the next session how do you think the Dept can produce more clinical psychologists? Unless RIMS takes up the necessary steps to recruit a new HOD for the Dept, how will it continue to exist?
The three-months verbal extension of retirement period for the current HOD certainly does not wipe out the speculations of closing the dept. Rather, it raises more questions making me think whether the extension is just to hush the students' and public's voice. The concerned authority may say that the exam for the present batch is over now and there is no need to worry but how genuine is the exam if the Chairman of the examiners is officially retired. And who will guarantee that the students will get license on passing the exam, going by the RCI protocols that the examination can be considered invalid if the HOD's extension is not on paper.
Meanwhile, the ISTV news reported that the intake of students for the current session 2010 has been placed in complete halt as none of the faculty members appointed are in regular basis. But isn't it the concerned authority's responsibility to look after the dept's needs so that it can enroll students for next session? Isn't it the duty of RIMS to recruit the required talents and let the dept continue to exist? Instead, the concerned authority is trying to get away from the main issues and blamed the dept by saying that it's sabotaging the students' career. The RIMS authority should blame itself for not being able to run the course in its truest sense and more productively, if it thinks the clinical psychology dept is lacking behind. The very blame on the dept shows how irresponsible and negligent the institute is towards the education of clinical psychology.
In the said news report, the concerned authority went to the extent of saying that the fate of the students remained at stake after the authority of the department failed to convince the union ministry for appointment of regular faculties. But that is not a reason good enough to close down the dept so abruptly. If the RCI has allowed and approved the Dept to offer M Phil course, why can't the concerned authority in RIMS work a little harder to appoint a new HOD.
As per the RCI requirements, the clinical psychology dept needs one Associate Professor or above and one Lecturer or above in fulltime basis to make the faculty regular. This is not too much for the concerned authority if it really wants the dept to continue.
I wonder what our Education Minister is doing till now. Why is he a silent spectator here? What is the use of having an education minister if he is least bothered about education? And what stake does he gain if the dept closes down?
And where has the State Health Dept gone? According to the Manpower Development report, out of a requirement of 260 clinical specialists, only 107 are available with the organization to cater to the needs of the people. There is an acute need to train more professional clinical psychologists in order to meet the increasing demands in the new area. And yet, the Department of Health, does not care a fig whether the clinical psychology dept closes down or continue to exist.
When all the medical fraternity is supposed to work together to develop the dept, the fraternity itself is turning its back. Some of the professors of RIMS blamed the former director Prof. L. Fimate and former head of department of Clinical psychology for creating the problem in the department. They also said at present the course survived for name shake only as there were no effective teaching and training programme during the 2 years M. Phil Course except for the three month training programme in NIMHANS Bangalore.
Our intellectuals and intelligent professors should think twice before blaming the clinical psychology dept. If they cannot lend any help in saving the dept, they must not throw stones to justify their statement.
Besides the poor and weak, I’m sure members from the fraternity must have also taken the help of the clinical psychologist at one point or the other to overcome their constant worry relating to kids and kins. Who does not face mental stress; everyone faces it, be it doctors or patients.
And instead of producing more clinical psychologists to meet the rising demand, the concerned authority is too happy to put and end to the service and get rid of the dept. If the concerned authority thinks that the clinical psychology dept has failed, it is because the authority has failed in making it a better dept. The dept is not an autonomous institute; it has been serving only under the guidance of RIMS. So, it is the failure of the concerned authority and not the failure of the dept.
"The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles, but to irrigate deserts." -- C. S. Lewis
There's not a single person who does not face mental stress as mental health problems are continuously rising owing to mounting pressure in personal/occupational or social domains across various sections of the society. Herein, the Clinical Psychologists play an important role for optimizing health care delivery system. Various techniques and methods derived from several branches of psychology are used in promotion of mental health, and in prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of mental and physical disorders or problems where psychological factors play a major role. Different methods and forms of psychological techniques are also used to ease an individual's emotional distress or any other forms of dysfunction or disability.
Mention may be made about the importance of the subject in context to Manipur's crisis torn situation, where most of the people face trauma of one mishap or the other. So in 2003, the Rehabilitation Council of India opened the M. Phil course in Clinical Psychology in collaboration with the Psychiatric Dept of RIMS to meet the demand for clinical psychologist for treatment and rehabilitation of mental and physical disorders. Not only is the dept one among the only 9 institutes offering M Phil course in India, it is also the sole institute in the whole of north east catering students from neighbouring states too.
On an average, the Clinical Psychology Dept delivers health service to a thousand annually, who are suffering from mental stress and victims of drug abuse. Most of these are from the labour class who cannot afford to go to rehab centres. The Dept also works in close coordination with the psychiatric dept from time to time as and when required providing assistance to each other. Apart from this, the dept also handle cases referred from other NGOs that deal with health issues.
And when there is an urgent need to train more number of professional clinical psychologists, speculation of closing down the dept has surfaced up just because there is no one to head the Dept. Earlier, RIMS had clarified against the said speculations saying that they have no intention to close it. But the fate of the Clinical Psychology Dept still hangs in mid air.
Unless the entrance test for the new batch is taken, how can the Dept continue to offer service to the people? Unless students are enrolled for the next session how do you think the Dept can produce more clinical psychologists? Unless RIMS takes up the necessary steps to recruit a new HOD for the Dept, how will it continue to exist?
The three-months verbal extension of retirement period for the current HOD certainly does not wipe out the speculations of closing the dept. Rather, it raises more questions making me think whether the extension is just to hush the students' and public's voice. The concerned authority may say that the exam for the present batch is over now and there is no need to worry but how genuine is the exam if the Chairman of the examiners is officially retired. And who will guarantee that the students will get license on passing the exam, going by the RCI protocols that the examination can be considered invalid if the HOD's extension is not on paper.
Meanwhile, the ISTV news reported that the intake of students for the current session 2010 has been placed in complete halt as none of the faculty members appointed are in regular basis. But isn't it the concerned authority's responsibility to look after the dept's needs so that it can enroll students for next session? Isn't it the duty of RIMS to recruit the required talents and let the dept continue to exist? Instead, the concerned authority is trying to get away from the main issues and blamed the dept by saying that it's sabotaging the students' career. The RIMS authority should blame itself for not being able to run the course in its truest sense and more productively, if it thinks the clinical psychology dept is lacking behind. The very blame on the dept shows how irresponsible and negligent the institute is towards the education of clinical psychology.
In the said news report, the concerned authority went to the extent of saying that the fate of the students remained at stake after the authority of the department failed to convince the union ministry for appointment of regular faculties. But that is not a reason good enough to close down the dept so abruptly. If the RCI has allowed and approved the Dept to offer M Phil course, why can't the concerned authority in RIMS work a little harder to appoint a new HOD.
As per the RCI requirements, the clinical psychology dept needs one Associate Professor or above and one Lecturer or above in fulltime basis to make the faculty regular. This is not too much for the concerned authority if it really wants the dept to continue.
I wonder what our Education Minister is doing till now. Why is he a silent spectator here? What is the use of having an education minister if he is least bothered about education? And what stake does he gain if the dept closes down?
And where has the State Health Dept gone? According to the Manpower Development report, out of a requirement of 260 clinical specialists, only 107 are available with the organization to cater to the needs of the people. There is an acute need to train more professional clinical psychologists in order to meet the increasing demands in the new area. And yet, the Department of Health, does not care a fig whether the clinical psychology dept closes down or continue to exist.
When all the medical fraternity is supposed to work together to develop the dept, the fraternity itself is turning its back. Some of the professors of RIMS blamed the former director Prof. L. Fimate and former head of department of Clinical psychology for creating the problem in the department. They also said at present the course survived for name shake only as there were no effective teaching and training programme during the 2 years M. Phil Course except for the three month training programme in NIMHANS Bangalore.
Our intellectuals and intelligent professors should think twice before blaming the clinical psychology dept. If they cannot lend any help in saving the dept, they must not throw stones to justify their statement.
Besides the poor and weak, I’m sure members from the fraternity must have also taken the help of the clinical psychologist at one point or the other to overcome their constant worry relating to kids and kins. Who does not face mental stress; everyone faces it, be it doctors or patients.
And instead of producing more clinical psychologists to meet the rising demand, the concerned authority is too happy to put and end to the service and get rid of the dept. If the concerned authority thinks that the clinical psychology dept has failed, it is because the authority has failed in making it a better dept. The dept is not an autonomous institute; it has been serving only under the guidance of RIMS. So, it is the failure of the concerned authority and not the failure of the dept.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
E-Pao, My Learning tool - a 10th Anniversary collection -
By: Babina Wahengbam *
E-Pao, I grew up with
E-Pao, I live with it
E-Pao, my learning tool
E-Pao, my resting place
Destiny brought me to Delhi, the dreamland for every dreamer, on my maiden flight ten years back. Far away from home, I was lost in the crowded streets searching for faces I know of. Wandering like a nomad from one Paying Guest to another, I kept looking for places I’m familiar of. And one fine day I found myself where I belong today just at the click of a mouse.
E-Pao is popular for its chat room. And no one comes here for serious stuffs in the beginning. Whoever visited this site has entered the chat room at one point or the other to kill time or make virtual friends. I was no different from the others. I entered the chat room too. Without thinking much, I used to idly chat around having no specific purpose. Initially, it was all surface talk playing hide & seek. And most of the time the chat was all about the nonsensical topics of the world. Sometimes it ended up throwing stones at each others, at times the talks became very formal but one thing everyone does there is killing time.
Until I realize that I have accumulated friends who were really trustworthy. Then, the talks gradually became purposeful and helpful to each other. Connecting from one place to another, I could learn and share information about various career options and opportunities available. One of the best things about E-Pao chat room is that you get to know a variety of people, good and bad, students and professionals of diverse streams, elders and juniors, who can be helpful and a few who can really guide you.
I never thought that the casual chats would one day help me in earning money. One of the remarkable achievements was the translation contract I bagged from a Delhi-based NGO working on an HIV positive people of Manipur. It was one of the chatter who helped me in grabbing the opportunity to work for such a social cause. And it was great experience. Besides this, a couple of projects are also in the pipeline which I’m quite excited about it.
It wouldn’t have been easy for me to work in a media company, especially online dept, where everything is web. But I learned my first lesson from E-Pao and it helped me in reaching where I am today. Some inspired me and some motivated me. Some helped me in solving technical problems and some encouraged me to face the challenges. While some helped me in understanding new software, others helped me in choosing the right career. I honestly don’t have words to express how much I have learned from E-Pao, but whatever I am today is partly because of the knowledge I gathered from here.
My learning process extends to the E-Pao Message Board too. Unfortunately, MB has been removed from the site but the huge knowledge that is pooled in the form of forums cannot be forgotten. It was one place of E-Pao where all the opinions are discussed with views and counter-views in healthy and unhealthy manners. The constant debate on the socio-political concerns enlightened me with interesting insights of the present generation’s approach towards the manifold problems and crisis. The entertainment forum talking about the latest Manipuri flicks and popular actors kept me updating about the talk of the town. The education and technology forums were nonetheless behind in delivering valuable information.
Though not mandatory, writing skills is one of the most important assets to be part of any media company. And my habit of writing came from the continuous effort to post messages on the Message Board. Apart from enjoying the debate and discussions, my writing style also improved. Thanks to the big time critics of MB users.
Another thing that keeps me hooked here is its Hotspot and Exclusive sections. From news to networking and personal views to entertainment, it is one-stop shop for all. The wide range of information it offers made the platform for social networking a platform for knowledge sharing. The time to time announcement on jobs and education in various companies and institutes are just so wonderful. One can also access information on the courses offered for upcoming sessions by clicking on the Education section on the left panel. And almost all the information comes from our fellow people who are working or studying in those very institutions and colleges.
This is not all. The number of contacts I have established for sharing information is just amazing. I would not have been able to build these helpful contacts out of E-Pao. For me this virtual world serves to be the connecting route to the real world among the people scattered all over the places. From breaking news to shattering news, E-Pao has it all. What more do I seek now!
Today, as E-Pao celebrates its 10th anniversary I would like to thank the E-Pao Team for rendering such a productive and functional service to the society. Personally, I thank E-Pao for helping me in shaping my career and making me somebody out of nobody who was once lost in the crowded streets of Delhi.
A big thanks to E-Pao and the Team!
PS: I would like to acknowledge the fact that E-Pao chat room and Message Board are not free from those dirty conversations and stinking messages but ultimately what makes the difference is how you make use of the medium. You can use the same knife to cut vegetables as well to kill someone. It’s up to you to decide how you want to use it; to use it constructively or destructively.
* Babina Wahengbam is an active user of this site. She has contributed various jobs postings and opinions apart from the erstwhile Message Board.
E-Pao, I grew up with
E-Pao, I live with it
E-Pao, my learning tool
E-Pao, my resting place
Destiny brought me to Delhi, the dreamland for every dreamer, on my maiden flight ten years back. Far away from home, I was lost in the crowded streets searching for faces I know of. Wandering like a nomad from one Paying Guest to another, I kept looking for places I’m familiar of. And one fine day I found myself where I belong today just at the click of a mouse.
E-Pao is popular for its chat room. And no one comes here for serious stuffs in the beginning. Whoever visited this site has entered the chat room at one point or the other to kill time or make virtual friends. I was no different from the others. I entered the chat room too. Without thinking much, I used to idly chat around having no specific purpose. Initially, it was all surface talk playing hide & seek. And most of the time the chat was all about the nonsensical topics of the world. Sometimes it ended up throwing stones at each others, at times the talks became very formal but one thing everyone does there is killing time.
Until I realize that I have accumulated friends who were really trustworthy. Then, the talks gradually became purposeful and helpful to each other. Connecting from one place to another, I could learn and share information about various career options and opportunities available. One of the best things about E-Pao chat room is that you get to know a variety of people, good and bad, students and professionals of diverse streams, elders and juniors, who can be helpful and a few who can really guide you.
I never thought that the casual chats would one day help me in earning money. One of the remarkable achievements was the translation contract I bagged from a Delhi-based NGO working on an HIV positive people of Manipur. It was one of the chatter who helped me in grabbing the opportunity to work for such a social cause. And it was great experience. Besides this, a couple of projects are also in the pipeline which I’m quite excited about it.
It wouldn’t have been easy for me to work in a media company, especially online dept, where everything is web. But I learned my first lesson from E-Pao and it helped me in reaching where I am today. Some inspired me and some motivated me. Some helped me in solving technical problems and some encouraged me to face the challenges. While some helped me in understanding new software, others helped me in choosing the right career. I honestly don’t have words to express how much I have learned from E-Pao, but whatever I am today is partly because of the knowledge I gathered from here.
My learning process extends to the E-Pao Message Board too. Unfortunately, MB has been removed from the site but the huge knowledge that is pooled in the form of forums cannot be forgotten. It was one place of E-Pao where all the opinions are discussed with views and counter-views in healthy and unhealthy manners. The constant debate on the socio-political concerns enlightened me with interesting insights of the present generation’s approach towards the manifold problems and crisis. The entertainment forum talking about the latest Manipuri flicks and popular actors kept me updating about the talk of the town. The education and technology forums were nonetheless behind in delivering valuable information.
Though not mandatory, writing skills is one of the most important assets to be part of any media company. And my habit of writing came from the continuous effort to post messages on the Message Board. Apart from enjoying the debate and discussions, my writing style also improved. Thanks to the big time critics of MB users.
Another thing that keeps me hooked here is its Hotspot and Exclusive sections. From news to networking and personal views to entertainment, it is one-stop shop for all. The wide range of information it offers made the platform for social networking a platform for knowledge sharing. The time to time announcement on jobs and education in various companies and institutes are just so wonderful. One can also access information on the courses offered for upcoming sessions by clicking on the Education section on the left panel. And almost all the information comes from our fellow people who are working or studying in those very institutions and colleges.
This is not all. The number of contacts I have established for sharing information is just amazing. I would not have been able to build these helpful contacts out of E-Pao. For me this virtual world serves to be the connecting route to the real world among the people scattered all over the places. From breaking news to shattering news, E-Pao has it all. What more do I seek now!
Today, as E-Pao celebrates its 10th anniversary I would like to thank the E-Pao Team for rendering such a productive and functional service to the society. Personally, I thank E-Pao for helping me in shaping my career and making me somebody out of nobody who was once lost in the crowded streets of Delhi.
A big thanks to E-Pao and the Team!
PS: I would like to acknowledge the fact that E-Pao chat room and Message Board are not free from those dirty conversations and stinking messages but ultimately what makes the difference is how you make use of the medium. You can use the same knife to cut vegetables as well to kill someone. It’s up to you to decide how you want to use it; to use it constructively or destructively.
* Babina Wahengbam is an active user of this site. She has contributed various jobs postings and opinions apart from the erstwhile Message Board.
Recruitment Exams: When will the results come out?
Babina Wahengbam *
This is certainly a million dollar question for those who have applied for Manipur Police jobs one and half years back!
While the results for the previous recruitment exams are put on hold, last month again, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh announced that about 4,678 police personnel and commandos will be recruited to replace central forces who at present are aiding the civil administration to tackle insurgency problem.
According to official sources, the personnel to be recruited will include 678 Manipur Rifles personnel and 2400 civil and reserve police forces.
But Mr Chief Minister, could you please tell us when will the results for the previous exams for Manipur Police and IRB be announced?
Isn't one and half year more than enough to declare the results? Do you intend to take it to the grave or are you thinking of squeezing out a few more bucks from it? At least, tell us how long is it going to take?
For you Mr CM, the results may mean nothing more than a sheet of paper with some figures and names. But where corruption prevails in every sphere of works, it's a hell lot of money at stake. People are paying in terms of lakhs hoping that my son or my brother gets the job.
Starting from the physical test to viva-voce, it's all about money. And they are paying it not because they have money but because they wanted the job at any cost especially when money comes on top of merit.
And from where does the money come? Many of the applicants' family including mine took loans, sell properties, borrowed at high interest and what not and from where not in the hope that once the job is in hand, the debts will be cleared slowly and steadily. But what do we get? Neither job nor money but deeper in debt!!
Let's do a little bit of calculation here. If the applicant has borrowed Rs 3 lakh at a minimum of 5 % interest, which is mostly higher than this, he must be paying Rs 15,000 interest per month. And Rs 1,80,000 interest a year. So in all, he has dumped at least Rs 4,80,000 and bears the burden of higher debt for a dream job, which is unlikely to get an appointment letter in near future.
Those of you who have taken the money in the name of offering the job may have digested it by now and may have even forgotten that they have taken Rs 2.5 to 3 lakh from the candidates but what about us (meecham praja di shendoi na khwang koirae). There cannot be a better timing than this to make the new announcement. It's just the right time to woo the poor people and suck their hard-earned cash.
I doubt if any militant outfits would come up and own that they also involve in the recruitment process by joining hands with dirty politicians and filthy bureaucrats. Forgetting that they took the responsibility of eliminating corruption, they rather enjoy a share of the huge money collected from the people in the name of management seat for UGs. What a Quota!
And I'm not talking only of Manipur Police jobs. What happened to the IRB exams? What happened to the Manipur Police (women) recruitment exams? I'm sure, there must be lot more recruitment exams than these which are just taken for the big bucks and the results never came out. A lot of money has gone down the drain.
So, will our honourable Mr CM conduct another recruitment exam and sleeps off without giving any further notice? Will our poor people keep offering money to the devils and raise more debts? Will our so called guardians of Kangleipak come out and change the system? Will the rich get richer and the poor gets poorer?
Mr CM, I request you to kindly announce the results of the exams conducted and please stop talking about any new recruitment when you cannot accommodate the earlier ones. Do you hear me?
The laws states that corruption is a crime but in a state like Manipur where everyone, from government to its people is corrupted, corruption takes the centrestage. And that's when criminals with crooked minds run the state.
* Babina Wahengbam contributes to e-pao.net regularly. The writer can be contacted at babina(dot)wahengbam(at)gmail(dot)com
This article was webcasted on July 24th, 2009.
This is certainly a million dollar question for those who have applied for Manipur Police jobs one and half years back!
While the results for the previous recruitment exams are put on hold, last month again, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh announced that about 4,678 police personnel and commandos will be recruited to replace central forces who at present are aiding the civil administration to tackle insurgency problem.
According to official sources, the personnel to be recruited will include 678 Manipur Rifles personnel and 2400 civil and reserve police forces.
But Mr Chief Minister, could you please tell us when will the results for the previous exams for Manipur Police and IRB be announced?
Isn't one and half year more than enough to declare the results? Do you intend to take it to the grave or are you thinking of squeezing out a few more bucks from it? At least, tell us how long is it going to take?
For you Mr CM, the results may mean nothing more than a sheet of paper with some figures and names. But where corruption prevails in every sphere of works, it's a hell lot of money at stake. People are paying in terms of lakhs hoping that my son or my brother gets the job.
Starting from the physical test to viva-voce, it's all about money. And they are paying it not because they have money but because they wanted the job at any cost especially when money comes on top of merit.
And from where does the money come? Many of the applicants' family including mine took loans, sell properties, borrowed at high interest and what not and from where not in the hope that once the job is in hand, the debts will be cleared slowly and steadily. But what do we get? Neither job nor money but deeper in debt!!
Let's do a little bit of calculation here. If the applicant has borrowed Rs 3 lakh at a minimum of 5 % interest, which is mostly higher than this, he must be paying Rs 15,000 interest per month. And Rs 1,80,000 interest a year. So in all, he has dumped at least Rs 4,80,000 and bears the burden of higher debt for a dream job, which is unlikely to get an appointment letter in near future.
Those of you who have taken the money in the name of offering the job may have digested it by now and may have even forgotten that they have taken Rs 2.5 to 3 lakh from the candidates but what about us (meecham praja di shendoi na khwang koirae). There cannot be a better timing than this to make the new announcement. It's just the right time to woo the poor people and suck their hard-earned cash.
I doubt if any militant outfits would come up and own that they also involve in the recruitment process by joining hands with dirty politicians and filthy bureaucrats. Forgetting that they took the responsibility of eliminating corruption, they rather enjoy a share of the huge money collected from the people in the name of management seat for UGs. What a Quota!
And I'm not talking only of Manipur Police jobs. What happened to the IRB exams? What happened to the Manipur Police (women) recruitment exams? I'm sure, there must be lot more recruitment exams than these which are just taken for the big bucks and the results never came out. A lot of money has gone down the drain.
So, will our honourable Mr CM conduct another recruitment exam and sleeps off without giving any further notice? Will our poor people keep offering money to the devils and raise more debts? Will our so called guardians of Kangleipak come out and change the system? Will the rich get richer and the poor gets poorer?
Mr CM, I request you to kindly announce the results of the exams conducted and please stop talking about any new recruitment when you cannot accommodate the earlier ones. Do you hear me?
The laws states that corruption is a crime but in a state like Manipur where everyone, from government to its people is corrupted, corruption takes the centrestage. And that's when criminals with crooked minds run the state.
* Babina Wahengbam contributes to e-pao.net regularly. The writer can be contacted at babina(dot)wahengbam(at)gmail(dot)com
This article was webcasted on July 24th, 2009.
Need of the Hour: Not a doctor, engineer, JAC or another faction but, an honest politician
Oinam Khuman Ngakpa & Babina Wahengbam *
We always wanted to be someone who sits inside the AC in suits and sarees; talks in American accented English, move around the foreign locals and pursue our own selfish goals and careers. At best, we would write something for our motherland or contribute few thousands generously to someone for a social cause.
The point is, the frame of mind of today’s youth is tuned in such a way that their aim is to study well, earn well and lead a good life with a good family. They don't think of politics as a career option at all. That's the mindset now. Perhaps, for the same reason private schools which accounts for largest number of students at high and higher secondary level are least interested in imbibing such culture and ambition. Perhaps, for the same reason very few good students who love the institute stand for college / school election. Perhaps, for the same reason there are only a countable number of highly qualified and educated politicians in the state in so many years.
We assumed that there will be always someone to run our motherland and left it in the hands of those knowingly they will at best create anarchy or chaos. In the past five to six decades there was none who could do something very right for the state. None of the government that ruled the state did anything which was outstanding and could be remembered. Instead, the politicians jumped from one party to another in search of power and money. Money which is the basic means of survival has rather become the selfish goal for the politicians to build castles for themselves and let the common man survive on tattering infrastructures.
The line for water has become longer, the number of hours in load shedding is record long, the roads are filled with potholes, a little drizzle is enough to flood many places, the corruption is rampant, the unemployment and under-employment has touched sky high, encounter happens daily, every job demands a shameless price to be given, job creation is painfully low, many family has lost their sons and daughters - some to guns and some to in search of jobs for survival, etc. but, we the common man have learnt to adjust the situation. Still we insist that our sons and daughters should become only engineers and doctors.
Perhaps, we have forgotten that it is the politician who can change the fate of the state and not the doctors, engineers, JACs or so-called numerous freedom fighters who have lost their ideology. We blame everything to the government. From so called encounter to poor roads, the government is the punching bag. We complained that the state is rotting but, we never wanted to take part in the political affairs of the state and are least bothered about how the state is governed. At the most, we would write something sitting in AC room saying that things are rotting and wrong. Who are we to complain when we have problem to be the part of the change? Morally, we also play a part in decomposing the wonderful motherland into something like war-raven state by running away from our duties and responsibilities. It takes lot of courage to stand up to do this and we don’t have the courage and strength. Worst part, we hate to admit but, love to criticize.
"Agar Gandhiji beta beta, biwi biwi kehkar ghar pe baithe rehte to tum aaj kisi angrej ka letrin saaf kar rahe hote". The line is quoted from movie Nayak. I hope the above line may inspire some of us to jump into the gutter and part of the cleansing system. "If people are happy with their 20K salary job, and live an ordinary life, then who will come out and bring the change?" – another dialogue from the same movie (translated to English). This hits hard enough to all of us if you have even an iota of love left for your motherland.
There are two types of human if you watch it closely. One who will criticize, bark all the time like a dog and one who initiates the change. We are like a kind of dog who keeps on barking on everything and everywhere – saying this is right or wrong. But, we always wanted to stay away from being the part of the change system.
We idolized Che Guevara but, we hate to admit that they also fall short of their own dreams. We have forgotten that there was also Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King or Nelson Mandela who took part in the change system by leading the country as Head of the Country. We have enough of Guevaras who are hiding in bushes of hills and far away countries. Now we need people like Fidel Castro, Lincoln, Martin or Nelson who stands and speak up, to represent the voices of the poor and the weak.
Agreed that we have lost faith in the current political system where corruptions, chamcha-giri are widespread. It will take lot of courage and determination to bring in a change where everyone will start having more faith in the system. The path will be full of problems; every turn will bring a new challenge to overcome. But, unless we don’t take the path now, it will be too late for the next generation. The next generation will be left with nothing if we decided to close our eyes, ears and fail to stand up at this time.
The need for you to be part of the political system has come not because everything is fine, smooth and route is well defined. But, because the gutter has stopped flowing and has become standstill since it is filled with all kinds of dirt you can simply imagine. Someone needs to pull up the sleeves and go down the gutter to cleanse without minding how dirty it will make him. It may be noted that many of America's leaders enter politics from other arenas-business and law being the two most common. Though, politics as a profession has fallen out of favor but it is still the heart of a democracy. If you learn how to fashion a political career then perhaps you can become a generation of professional politicians who run things differently.
The path is not meant of soft hearted people like you who will prefer to stay away. It is for those who have the courage and determination to do so. Maybe even Rambo will fall short for such tasks. We need to awake the hero inside every one of us to bring a change because change is never easy how small it is.
If you still think that there will be someone else to remove the dirt while you are sitting in AC room far away then stop cribbing and stay silent because you are not worth to say or write anything. States are not moral agents, people are, and can impose moral standards on powerful institutions. What are the moral standards that we have set? What have we done to encourage 'good' politicians and kick out the bad ones? These are questions that can be easily asked but so tough to answer.
Development can take place only when there is change in the system which is in the hands of the politicians. The power of a politician is immense and if used properly for the welfare of the people can cleanse the dirt. The very law that binds the person in power from making the changes can be amended with a little effort by going beyond the selfish goals. But the very first step to remove the dirt is to replace the bad politicians with good ones.
There’s no bad politics. There are only bad politicians. True, that power corrupts people but power can also correct the people. The person in power makes all the difference. So let’s fight for the chair instead of picking up a gun if we really want growth in our state.
* Oinam Khuman Ngakpa & Babina Wahengbam contributes to e-pao.net regularly. The writers can be contacted at ngakpa[DOT]oinam[AT]gmail[DOT]com and babina[DOT]wahengbam[AT]gmail[DOT]com
This article was webcasted on March 10th, 2010.
We always wanted to be someone who sits inside the AC in suits and sarees; talks in American accented English, move around the foreign locals and pursue our own selfish goals and careers. At best, we would write something for our motherland or contribute few thousands generously to someone for a social cause.
The point is, the frame of mind of today’s youth is tuned in such a way that their aim is to study well, earn well and lead a good life with a good family. They don't think of politics as a career option at all. That's the mindset now. Perhaps, for the same reason private schools which accounts for largest number of students at high and higher secondary level are least interested in imbibing such culture and ambition. Perhaps, for the same reason very few good students who love the institute stand for college / school election. Perhaps, for the same reason there are only a countable number of highly qualified and educated politicians in the state in so many years.
We assumed that there will be always someone to run our motherland and left it in the hands of those knowingly they will at best create anarchy or chaos. In the past five to six decades there was none who could do something very right for the state. None of the government that ruled the state did anything which was outstanding and could be remembered. Instead, the politicians jumped from one party to another in search of power and money. Money which is the basic means of survival has rather become the selfish goal for the politicians to build castles for themselves and let the common man survive on tattering infrastructures.
The line for water has become longer, the number of hours in load shedding is record long, the roads are filled with potholes, a little drizzle is enough to flood many places, the corruption is rampant, the unemployment and under-employment has touched sky high, encounter happens daily, every job demands a shameless price to be given, job creation is painfully low, many family has lost their sons and daughters - some to guns and some to in search of jobs for survival, etc. but, we the common man have learnt to adjust the situation. Still we insist that our sons and daughters should become only engineers and doctors.
Perhaps, we have forgotten that it is the politician who can change the fate of the state and not the doctors, engineers, JACs or so-called numerous freedom fighters who have lost their ideology. We blame everything to the government. From so called encounter to poor roads, the government is the punching bag. We complained that the state is rotting but, we never wanted to take part in the political affairs of the state and are least bothered about how the state is governed. At the most, we would write something sitting in AC room saying that things are rotting and wrong. Who are we to complain when we have problem to be the part of the change? Morally, we also play a part in decomposing the wonderful motherland into something like war-raven state by running away from our duties and responsibilities. It takes lot of courage to stand up to do this and we don’t have the courage and strength. Worst part, we hate to admit but, love to criticize.
"Agar Gandhiji beta beta, biwi biwi kehkar ghar pe baithe rehte to tum aaj kisi angrej ka letrin saaf kar rahe hote". The line is quoted from movie Nayak. I hope the above line may inspire some of us to jump into the gutter and part of the cleansing system. "If people are happy with their 20K salary job, and live an ordinary life, then who will come out and bring the change?" – another dialogue from the same movie (translated to English). This hits hard enough to all of us if you have even an iota of love left for your motherland.
There are two types of human if you watch it closely. One who will criticize, bark all the time like a dog and one who initiates the change. We are like a kind of dog who keeps on barking on everything and everywhere – saying this is right or wrong. But, we always wanted to stay away from being the part of the change system.
We idolized Che Guevara but, we hate to admit that they also fall short of their own dreams. We have forgotten that there was also Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King or Nelson Mandela who took part in the change system by leading the country as Head of the Country. We have enough of Guevaras who are hiding in bushes of hills and far away countries. Now we need people like Fidel Castro, Lincoln, Martin or Nelson who stands and speak up, to represent the voices of the poor and the weak.
Agreed that we have lost faith in the current political system where corruptions, chamcha-giri are widespread. It will take lot of courage and determination to bring in a change where everyone will start having more faith in the system. The path will be full of problems; every turn will bring a new challenge to overcome. But, unless we don’t take the path now, it will be too late for the next generation. The next generation will be left with nothing if we decided to close our eyes, ears and fail to stand up at this time.
The need for you to be part of the political system has come not because everything is fine, smooth and route is well defined. But, because the gutter has stopped flowing and has become standstill since it is filled with all kinds of dirt you can simply imagine. Someone needs to pull up the sleeves and go down the gutter to cleanse without minding how dirty it will make him. It may be noted that many of America's leaders enter politics from other arenas-business and law being the two most common. Though, politics as a profession has fallen out of favor but it is still the heart of a democracy. If you learn how to fashion a political career then perhaps you can become a generation of professional politicians who run things differently.
The path is not meant of soft hearted people like you who will prefer to stay away. It is for those who have the courage and determination to do so. Maybe even Rambo will fall short for such tasks. We need to awake the hero inside every one of us to bring a change because change is never easy how small it is.
If you still think that there will be someone else to remove the dirt while you are sitting in AC room far away then stop cribbing and stay silent because you are not worth to say or write anything. States are not moral agents, people are, and can impose moral standards on powerful institutions. What are the moral standards that we have set? What have we done to encourage 'good' politicians and kick out the bad ones? These are questions that can be easily asked but so tough to answer.
Development can take place only when there is change in the system which is in the hands of the politicians. The power of a politician is immense and if used properly for the welfare of the people can cleanse the dirt. The very law that binds the person in power from making the changes can be amended with a little effort by going beyond the selfish goals. But the very first step to remove the dirt is to replace the bad politicians with good ones.
There’s no bad politics. There are only bad politicians. True, that power corrupts people but power can also correct the people. The person in power makes all the difference. So let’s fight for the chair instead of picking up a gun if we really want growth in our state.
* Oinam Khuman Ngakpa & Babina Wahengbam contributes to e-pao.net regularly. The writers can be contacted at ngakpa[DOT]oinam[AT]gmail[DOT]com and babina[DOT]wahengbam[AT]gmail[DOT]com
This article was webcasted on March 10th, 2010.
Manipur would be better off without tainted militants
Babina Wahengbam *
I know I would be their first target for having such an opinion about them but my conscience doesn't allow me to have a better view than this. Then should I keep my mouth shut? No, I cannot.
I'm a journalist working with economictimes.com. I was scanning wires when I saw the news about Raj Kumar Singh, the self-styled captain and commander of KYKL, being arrested from South Extension in Delhi along with a Manipuri film actress, Devita.
What a shame! What makes me more disgusting is Raghunath's claim that they collect 2% cut on all the contracts awarded in Manipur and 1.5% cut from government employees. I'm sure KYKL or any other tainted militant outfit must be saying this with pride but they are nothing less than parasites.
If I'm not wrong, the purported objective militant outfits are to rebuild Manipuri society by clearing it of all vices like immoral activities, drug peddling and corruption. But these outfits actually indulge in extortion in a big way sparing none.
In the name of the state's welfare, they illegally collect taxes from the common people. There are hardly any people who pay taxes to the government but every employee pay these illegal tax including my dad without fail due to fear of losing his life.
Most striking part is that, people have to pay to several groups. They just cannot say no to them. Their guns and bullets speaks, the common man listens to it silently. What a great social work for social cause!
And who are these tainted militants? Some school dropout kids with half-witted ignorant minds who ran away from homes just to have their own way. What good work can he do who doesn't even know what is right or wrong for his own life?
I don't appreciate the leaders of these tainted outfits who welcome these mindless youths in their groups and persuades to work for them by giving the license to kill. I wish they had guided them to the right path.
Today, there is not a single sphere of social or political activities left where they don't come in between. Soon, we will see the day when they will start interfering in out private lives like what to eat and what not to eat, when to sleep and when not to sleep.
They are ready to kill anyone who stands against them but they would give a deaf ear and blind eye when the schools are closed for strikes, when the national highways are blocked by the NSCN, when a child is kidnapped for ransom, when drugs are peddling around, when the cheap restaurants at the roadsides are doing some dirty business at broad daylight, when corruption is prevailing during recruitments, when the common man really suffers from the common threats. I don't appreciate our so-called freedom fighters who are just curbing the freedom of their own people.
They banned everything about Indian but they forget that they are wearing Indian clothes, eating Indian foods and running after Indian money. Why don't they go after dollars and pounds and euros?
So coming back to the point, this is not the first time that a militant has been nabbed. But it has become so common that people started looking at us with suspicion and doubts. I have been living here for a decade now.
Today, I feel ashamed of myself to go to office. I feel ashamed because they have left no choice for us to live in dignity. We already have a bad impression, their act makes it worse!
Though I salute to those who are really sacrificing their lives for the common cause but they are lost in the midst of numerous outfits and several factional groups. I'm ready to fight for our basic rights through proper channels but I certainly don't buy the idea of instilling fear in the minds of our own people in the name of a better Kangleipak!
* Babina Wahengbam contributes to e-pao.net for the first time . The writer can be contacted at babina(dot)wahengbam(at)gmail(dot)com
This article was webcasted on July 12th, 2009.
I know I would be their first target for having such an opinion about them but my conscience doesn't allow me to have a better view than this. Then should I keep my mouth shut? No, I cannot.
I'm a journalist working with economictimes.com. I was scanning wires when I saw the news about Raj Kumar Singh, the self-styled captain and commander of KYKL, being arrested from South Extension in Delhi along with a Manipuri film actress, Devita.
What a shame! What makes me more disgusting is Raghunath's claim that they collect 2% cut on all the contracts awarded in Manipur and 1.5% cut from government employees. I'm sure KYKL or any other tainted militant outfit must be saying this with pride but they are nothing less than parasites.
If I'm not wrong, the purported objective militant outfits are to rebuild Manipuri society by clearing it of all vices like immoral activities, drug peddling and corruption. But these outfits actually indulge in extortion in a big way sparing none.
In the name of the state's welfare, they illegally collect taxes from the common people. There are hardly any people who pay taxes to the government but every employee pay these illegal tax including my dad without fail due to fear of losing his life.
Most striking part is that, people have to pay to several groups. They just cannot say no to them. Their guns and bullets speaks, the common man listens to it silently. What a great social work for social cause!
And who are these tainted militants? Some school dropout kids with half-witted ignorant minds who ran away from homes just to have their own way. What good work can he do who doesn't even know what is right or wrong for his own life?
I don't appreciate the leaders of these tainted outfits who welcome these mindless youths in their groups and persuades to work for them by giving the license to kill. I wish they had guided them to the right path.
Today, there is not a single sphere of social or political activities left where they don't come in between. Soon, we will see the day when they will start interfering in out private lives like what to eat and what not to eat, when to sleep and when not to sleep.
They are ready to kill anyone who stands against them but they would give a deaf ear and blind eye when the schools are closed for strikes, when the national highways are blocked by the NSCN, when a child is kidnapped for ransom, when drugs are peddling around, when the cheap restaurants at the roadsides are doing some dirty business at broad daylight, when corruption is prevailing during recruitments, when the common man really suffers from the common threats. I don't appreciate our so-called freedom fighters who are just curbing the freedom of their own people.
They banned everything about Indian but they forget that they are wearing Indian clothes, eating Indian foods and running after Indian money. Why don't they go after dollars and pounds and euros?
So coming back to the point, this is not the first time that a militant has been nabbed. But it has become so common that people started looking at us with suspicion and doubts. I have been living here for a decade now.
Today, I feel ashamed of myself to go to office. I feel ashamed because they have left no choice for us to live in dignity. We already have a bad impression, their act makes it worse!
Though I salute to those who are really sacrificing their lives for the common cause but they are lost in the midst of numerous outfits and several factional groups. I'm ready to fight for our basic rights through proper channels but I certainly don't buy the idea of instilling fear in the minds of our own people in the name of a better Kangleipak!
* Babina Wahengbam contributes to e-pao.net for the first time . The writer can be contacted at babina(dot)wahengbam(at)gmail(dot)com
This article was webcasted on July 12th, 2009.
Will the people of Manipur ever see justice? Babina Wahengbam *
Killing after killings, judicial probe after judicial probes, but where is justice? The Sanjit fake encounter case that managed to rocked the state for a while slipped away silently with the victims bearing the pain of the aftermath. The days move on with another encounter, fake or not, and a few more deaths, militants or innocents. People and politicians watch it. So does the GOI offering a deaf ear and blind eye towards the state as if a few more killings are just like another ordinary dealings. In such a situation, what can the people of Manipur do?
So, in trying to raise their voice against the killings of the innocents and demanding justice, strikes and bandhs are called and our respected curfew minister O Ibobi Singh imposed curfews irrespective of the cause to control the people's movement. Again a few more casualties! It's like the vicious cycle that has no end.
Identifying terrorism, insurgency in the northeast and Maoist violence as the three biggest challenges facing the country, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said state governments need to do more to stamp out the threats to India's internal security. With the state's forces having the license to kill, innocent people are being killed in the name of war against terror. If terrorism is to be countered this way than the Government of India is equally responsible for spreading terror in the state.
In the Rabina and Sanjit fake encounter case, CM initially accepted the police version of these cases despite knowing the record of their forces. In 2004, Thangjam Manorama Devi was picked up by the Assam Rifles and found dead 5 hours later. PM promised justice and repeal of AFSPA but nothing as such happened. In such a situation, how can law prevail in the state? Manipur has lost its legitimacy because it can neither provide justice nor safety to its people. Even the life of 5-months old unborn baby is no longer safe in the mother's womb!
While the voluntary shutdown of Pune and Mumbai due to swine flu scare was being widely reported and debated, little is known about the forced shutdown of the large parts of Manipur. And even as media focused on the incident revolving around Shah Rukh Khan's so called detention at Newark Airport in US, thousands of people in Manipur go through such incidents every day. But neither the sate nor the centre cared to look at it.
In 2004, women staged a naked protest when security forces brutally gunned down Thangjam Manorama who they accused of being a militant. It was a desperate appeal for justice from upholders of human rights across the globe. Time and again, women protest of making a sort of protective fence out of their phaneks during Sanjit's fake encounter case. It was an expression of outrage, a cry of desperation and the only way of showing how naked and helpless the people feel in the absence of a rule of law. In 2001 Gujarat made headlines because of the riots that took several lives at once. But in Manipur people die everyday either at the hands of security forces or militants.
But ex-gratias and monetary compensation cannot be regarded as act of justice. If that is the case, then anyone who can afford to give a few bucks can actually start killing people making the state a battle field for the powerful ones. People now wonder how the UPA govt continues to back a CM who has all but failed to govern Manipur. Is it because Ibobi Singh and his IRB (commonly known as Ibobi Reserve Battalion by the local people) go on an overdrive for results whenevevr he is pulled up by the Centre? Or is it because, our CM is so good in turning the table on his favour during any talks with the concerned organisations, associations or groups in silencing the people? Either way, CM knows well how to make any deal in his favour.
And while doing so, justice has lost its meaning and many people are experiencing manifold consequences of violence directly or indirectly. It is high time to bring justice in Manipur through a network of constructive leaders who are not looking for personal and political gains. The dead cannot cry out for justice; it is a duty of the living to do so for them. And if justice is delayed then justice is denied!
There will be no justice as long as man will stand with a knife or with a gun and destroy those who are weaker than he is.
So, in trying to raise their voice against the killings of the innocents and demanding justice, strikes and bandhs are called and our respected curfew minister O Ibobi Singh imposed curfews irrespective of the cause to control the people's movement. Again a few more casualties! It's like the vicious cycle that has no end.
Identifying terrorism, insurgency in the northeast and Maoist violence as the three biggest challenges facing the country, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said state governments need to do more to stamp out the threats to India's internal security. With the state's forces having the license to kill, innocent people are being killed in the name of war against terror. If terrorism is to be countered this way than the Government of India is equally responsible for spreading terror in the state.
In the Rabina and Sanjit fake encounter case, CM initially accepted the police version of these cases despite knowing the record of their forces. In 2004, Thangjam Manorama Devi was picked up by the Assam Rifles and found dead 5 hours later. PM promised justice and repeal of AFSPA but nothing as such happened. In such a situation, how can law prevail in the state? Manipur has lost its legitimacy because it can neither provide justice nor safety to its people. Even the life of 5-months old unborn baby is no longer safe in the mother's womb!
While the voluntary shutdown of Pune and Mumbai due to swine flu scare was being widely reported and debated, little is known about the forced shutdown of the large parts of Manipur. And even as media focused on the incident revolving around Shah Rukh Khan's so called detention at Newark Airport in US, thousands of people in Manipur go through such incidents every day. But neither the sate nor the centre cared to look at it.
In 2004, women staged a naked protest when security forces brutally gunned down Thangjam Manorama who they accused of being a militant. It was a desperate appeal for justice from upholders of human rights across the globe. Time and again, women protest of making a sort of protective fence out of their phaneks during Sanjit's fake encounter case. It was an expression of outrage, a cry of desperation and the only way of showing how naked and helpless the people feel in the absence of a rule of law. In 2001 Gujarat made headlines because of the riots that took several lives at once. But in Manipur people die everyday either at the hands of security forces or militants.
But ex-gratias and monetary compensation cannot be regarded as act of justice. If that is the case, then anyone who can afford to give a few bucks can actually start killing people making the state a battle field for the powerful ones. People now wonder how the UPA govt continues to back a CM who has all but failed to govern Manipur. Is it because Ibobi Singh and his IRB (commonly known as Ibobi Reserve Battalion by the local people) go on an overdrive for results whenevevr he is pulled up by the Centre? Or is it because, our CM is so good in turning the table on his favour during any talks with the concerned organisations, associations or groups in silencing the people? Either way, CM knows well how to make any deal in his favour.
And while doing so, justice has lost its meaning and many people are experiencing manifold consequences of violence directly or indirectly. It is high time to bring justice in Manipur through a network of constructive leaders who are not looking for personal and political gains. The dead cannot cry out for justice; it is a duty of the living to do so for them. And if justice is delayed then justice is denied!
There will be no justice as long as man will stand with a knife or with a gun and destroy those who are weaker than he is.
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