Farewell wish to outgoing & welcome note to incoming Governor (s)

RS Jassal *

A Govt formed at State level, is called Council of Ministers headed by CM and the Governor specifically mentions 'My Govt' & so on to set Govt on performance route though charted by the CM. Tasks are performed by Council of Ministers, CS & the DGP which are taken as Govt but individualist performance is pointed out while highlighting weakness/failures though suo motto, it is unitary performance when looked at from Governor's angle. I am impressed by the performance of the current Govt in upbeat though to many it may look otherwise.

Let me capitulate some of pink success points to change the yellow columns of local newspapers, which are generally full of demoralising news like killings, extortions, kidnappings, rapes & bandhs.

When His Excellency Dr SS Sidhu took over, 'his Govt' the scenario was quite dark & chances of the Govt under Ibobi moving with pulsating performance looked bleak because of two pronged attack at the roots of the governance – One, a very concentrated at all time high dose action by social organisations condensed into one with Apunba Lub (a conglomeration of 32 organisations) to launch agitational activities of all sorts to get Kangla vacated and the second was open tirade against Govt functionaries to extract cut from all developmental funds & summoning of senior functionaries/DDO's to areas like Loktak Lake vast & the places in 'Liberated Zones' where UGs were carrying out their activities unhindered to paralyse State fiscal fine points.

Kangla issue was highlighted in world view worst by 'naked brigade' demonstration & it was given to equate its vacation with that of Liberation of Kangla as if that was under seize. Kangla was already in the process of vacation since RK Dorendro Singh's regime though, barring delays in vacation due to one reason or the other. Let this remain a side issue as defunct.

The Govt servants & pensioners used to get delayed payment of their pay & pension. Only two air flights used to operate. There were duplicate teachers, fake teachers and substitute teachers on ground & even Govt employees list was not accounted properly. Hence almost 20,000 were drawing pay non-gratia. Some well meaning UG outfits who shot into popularity/prominence with a noble cause to cleanse the dirt in Govt & societal functioning themselves got involved in similar acts. More than often frequent agitational approaches with signing of MOU actioned or unactioned were common.

Burning of books, closing of institutions for nonpayment of extortion demands were common & economic blockade for months together was witnessed by the Govt, the SFs, intellectuals & activists both for and against Manipur Integrity. It can run into a big book account if each & every event all dissimilar in nature & style are to be recorded.

Dr Shivinder Singh Sidhu, a well known economist, author and seasoned administrator set his vision to tackle the people through 'his Govt' development & development alone. It is heartening to see air flights added & lots of funds flow in for various people oriented projects. Where Govt faced situation of meeting agitation and sad commentaries on any developmental activities to be undertaken 'dictated by bloated knowledge bank but copious vision to create something great out of the blue even challenged the utility of Flyover and wisdom of putting Ima market without losing originality, is it not good change that now MLAs are fast spending funds judiciously. Can anyone elucidate meaning underneath originality, modernity & aesthetisty.

Under these circumstances current Govt has gone ahead with new constructions and done commendable job. Isn't it creditable? As a layman utility of flyover will come to realise once Ima markets are also complete & use of RCC bridge river Nambol river next to Hathi Chowk is realised. Rural road connectivity in hills too is also coming up & honourable MS Legislative Assembly now are vying with each other to complete Govt projects to outshine other A/Cs Adhyaksh and Adhyakshas (Panchayats) Engineers, Students/Schools, various Leikais organising into JAC, truckers- buses going off road to protest extortions threats and majority of honorables realising the hidden socio- economic threat to the social fabric for which they are elected to protect is not a small change , Your Excellency. I hung my uniform 11 years back & settled in this State which is replete with national & international achievements.

In fact, in some cases India is known to outside world by Manipur tab too, take sports, art culture , literature & philosophical way of living worldly/spiritual life all well combined & interpolated. What irks most is restricted opening for youth & entrepreneurs to venture out, which can appear once NSAs major groups realise importance of this most important requirement in human development index inventory which is UN's goal too.

I had almost sixteen 'calling on' with His Excellency till he called me on 14th July for which I feel highly obliged & honoured. I saw him on exalted rostrum in Kangla on 20th Nov 2004, the historic occasion for all of us — Manipuri's-Non Manipuri's all occasion graced by H'ble PM of India, Dr Manmohan Singh to oversee the handing over of Kangla fort key by Lt Gen Bhopinder Singh PVSM, AVSM then DGAR to Shri O Ibobi Singh, H'ble CM of Kangleipak. There was distinct glow on the face of His Excellency.

Turn out of people from all walks of life was exceptionally high & of boycott call by some NSA group was politely ignored by people or Govt had put in extra labour to ensure such a large gathering. That evening crimson rays of setting sun on the gathering presented a spectacular show. Thereafter in my routine (on my request) meetings there was not even a single occasion when he did not touch upon the goodness & grace of the people of this State.

It appeared to all that Kangla restoration to people will assuage the hurt feeling of 1891 episode & development activities will kick off in spurt & so on was the belief of His Excellency which I could detect in our interactions at times. He always used to think how to bring about new projects from Delhi. Many economic ills have been solved, Govt zigzag paths have been straightened or at least put on corrective angles. New Excellency will be arriving shortly.

If momentum is maintained or rather hastened Manipur will surely shine trebble the shine further as team remains almost the same of dedicated persons and honorables with only change of CS and the Governor affected. As analyst of the situation I feel good days are ahead.

Welcoming you Sir, the new Governor Shri Gurbachan Jagat (in advance) I would like to implore if following menu is added on your developmental opportunity. One is internal squabbles of majority party in power must be sorted out once and for all to put the erosion on hold which is presently contributing to many ills. Two, State Peace Commission preferably under an honourable or from exhonourable (s) is constituted to prevail up on NSA leaders for peace talks through purposeful negotiations.

With other two three members on Commission who should be visionary & possess missionary zeal. Three, Tipaimukh project be started immediately to uplift socio-economic level of that region. It will reduce tension in Jiribam South NC Hills sector automatically once economic activities kick off with one super committee of local dignitaries to oversee proper implementation of the MOU that advantages to dam affected persons. You may term it communication cover.

Four, revive Vanaspati Ghee factory (Koirengei), Mani Fruit processing plant Mantripukhri, Spinning Mill factory Khurkhul, State AH breeding centre Kangpokpi, State Feed Mixing plant, Porompat & open one new plant Pineapple processing each at Andro & Jiribam, Orange canning factory & banana Processing factory at Jiribam & Tamenglong.

Dr Sidhu Sir, I wish you all the best in your next assignment. Your selfless services to the people of Manipur to usher in development boon will be remembered for times to come. What more some one in the State (son of the soil) has already developed an orchid under the name 'Shivinder orchid' which will keep on reminding people of your association with them & us of course.