Systems that exists only by name
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: June 15 2011 -

Once again the soft underbelly of the corruption riddled system which governs us has been exposed in the form of shortcomings in the Medical Department, the Traffic Police and the PWD. A motor cyclist was knocked down by a speeding bus at Thinunggei Kha Khunou, he suffered critical injuries and was rushed to the Bishnupur District Hospital.

When his conditioned worsened he was referred to a better equipped hospital in Imphal. His family then hired the ambulance of the District Hospital. En route to Imphal, the ambulance ran out of fuel. It took at least half an hour to re-fuel the ambulance.

On arrival at the Shija Hospitals he was declared 'brought dead'. In another incident a cyclist was knocked down by a speeding bus a Takhel Leikai, in the heart of the city. Apparently the man was hit by the bus as he tried to manoeuvre around a pot hole. He too did not survive the accident.

Both the accidents, and incidents of death that ensued, are related to lapses of concerned government departments. The traffic police ignonimously features in both cases. In the Thinungei mishap it stars with the Medical Department. In the Takhel Leikai case its co-star is the PWD.

A recap of the lapses of these non-performing stars is needed. The traffic police still has not realized the gravity of the fact that rash driving has now reached a stage when pedestrians could meet death at any given time or place. And we are worried whether the traffic police has become immune to the loss of precious lives.

Next, the Medical Department in the district level, may or may not have ambulances, but if it does, it seems one can only avail of their services by hiring them. Further the District Hospital which has referred a case to Imphal does not deem it necessary to assign even a para-medic to accompany the seriously wounded.

Lastly the PWD is simply impervious to the plight of the people caused by pot holes in Imphal's streets. It could not care less whether people die of accidents related to these pot holes.

Isn't it time for these government institutions to own up their lapses and shortcomings? The opposition, by the way, has a one track mind, the issues highlighted by these incidents is sidelined because they are totally immersed in the act of baying at the government. That much then for looking for help from that quarter.

The answer lies with the people. The people have to be aware of the problems afflicting them, we have to learn how to put forward our grievances coherently.

If nothing or little happens we can take the help of the court. Bandhs, blockades and stone pelting will not be of much use, and they frequently become counter productive because the state authority could easily define such acts as a breach of law and order.

If you believe in a philosophy of 'Help the cops, beat yourself up regulary' then that's fine with us, go ahead with confrontations where you will land up with physical pain, mental anguish and the tag of a fugitive.

Otherwise lets sit and discuss our problems.