Sports, corruption and HIV/AIDS – when someone first sees these three words, may seen as interrelated or not related. These may be interrelated to some extent or may not be at all to somebody.

In these paper also, I am not trying to show they are interrelated or not related. Rather, I would like to give time and space in discussing that among others, these are the activities/ fields which introduces us (the state of Manipur) not only to India but also to the global world.

Sports

I started thinking of writing this paper when I saw the final medal tally of 33rd National Games, held at neighbouring Guwahati, Assam, in the month of February. Manipur finished as the second best team in this Game with a staggering 51 gold medals. With 32 silver and 40 bronze, Manipur ended up with a total of 123 medals.

Services, the only institutional contingent who recruit the best sportsperson at the games, finished as the best team with 59 gold medals, 46 silver and 37 bronze, a total of 142 medals. Though Manipur was placed in second, it was much ahead of other competitive states in terms of the number of gold medals.

Hosts Assam which was placed in the third could win only 38 gold medals and fourth placed Kerala won only 31 gold medals. This speaks volumes for the excellence of the sports persons of the tiny India’s northeastern state of Manipur ahead of the states like Kerala- giant of water sports and Punjab-spearheads in athletics.

The state left behind a much more populous Delhi which also has good infrastructure as also Uttar Pradesh, who, with 166.63 million people, finished ninth with 25 gold, 18 silver and 34 bronze.

The irony is many medals that could have been included in Manipur’s kitty had gone to other States. For example, among many, hosts Assam in that national games won its first gold medal through a Manipuri (Somorjit) in the wushu discipline while Ng Sonia of Manipur clinched the 48 weight lifting title for the state of Uttar Pradesh. Representing Delhi Shandyarani secured the silver medal in the same class.

Even neighbouring Nagaland - making its debut in the Guwahati games - has players from Manipur contributing to their medal haul. Besides, numerous players from Manipur were members of other States in team events, for example, Assam also had Deepmala Devi winning a gold in the 20 kms walking race.

Even though accurate information could not be collected on the number of Manipuri players playing for their newly adopted States, there is clear evidence that Manipuris are working hard to earn fame for other States also in various disciplines/events.

Manipur has shown great potential in the field of games and sports. The state has been dominating almost any sporting meet in India, from women's football to wushu, and across all age groups. It has consistently producing big sporting heroes, whether it is in football, weightlifting, hockey, judo, taekwando, wushu or even cycling.

It is proud of being the home state of famous sports personalities like weight lifters Kunjarani (Rajiv Gandhi Khel Awardee 1996), Sanamacha, Monika; footballer Tomba, Bijen, Renedy, Bembem; hockey players Surjalata (former Indian hockey captain), Tingongleima Chanu, Tiken, Olympians Nilkamal, Thoiba; boxers Dinko (Bangkok Asian gold medallist), Mary Kom (World Boxing Champion), Sarita and many more.

The rich sporting tradition of the State which has football topping the popularity chart have already established a monopoly in women's football over the years. No team has dominated a tournament before like Manipur team. Manipur women players have lifted the Senior National Trophy for a record 8 times out of 10 editions.

Not only this, there are 9-10 players of this state in the Indian Women's teams of all age groups. At present, a good number of footballers from this tiny state are playing for many big clubs all over the Indian Sub-continent including, East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, Md. Sporting Union, Air India, Services, Churchil Brothers etc.etc.etc. earning fabulous incomes.

In the recent years, there are at least some players from this state in the Indian team squad. Sepak Takraw, wushu and fencing are other games totally dominated by Manipuris in the country.

What is so significant about all these achievements? Manipur has a mere 0.2% of the Indian population and the government has done little to develop proper infrastructure. There is no proper sport policy in place. Despite all these odds, Manipur is shining in sports.

Corruption

Corruption in simple terms may be described as an act of bribery. It has also been described as the use of public power for private profits in a way that constitutes a breach of law or a deviation from the norms of society. Corruption is indulged in only by the person having some powers and generally found among government servants as they can have undue advantages through them.

It is true that corrupt practices exist in all societies in some form or the other. Everything is possible in society by adopting corrupt practices. While people gave and took bribes in the past in hundreds and thousands, now it is in lakhs or crores. At one time, bribe was paid only for getting wrong things done but now the bribe is also paid for getting the right things done at the right time. However, it is difficult to assess the real magnitude and spread of corruption.

In the present day Manipur, corruption is rampant in all walks of public life – political, economic and social system. It has resulted into the total collapse of the system. The height of corruption has reached such an alarming level that today people can no more think of getting a government job on merit basis.

Lakhs of rupees are giving as bribe for getting a government job. It takes months to move a file from one table to another if bribes are not given. At all levels, from bottom to top, ranging from the clerks, bureaucrats to ministers, would happily accept the bribe. A high rate of unemployment exists in Manipur, particularly among the educated youth.

The number of job seekers in Manipur has crossed over the 4 lakh marks according to the records of the Employment Exchange office of the nine districts of Manipur. However, getting a government job in the present scenario seems to depend on how much you can pay for that.

In Manipur we have been witnessing a long list of scandals and financial irregularities. Mostly, it is the names of top ranking officials, bureaucrats, leaders holding important political positions and Ministers figure prominently. But nothing tangible has been done in uncovering, tracing, apprehending, prosecuting and punishing the culprits on the plea of inadequate evidence.

Moreover, Manipur government has been on record for not able to complete the full five years term since it became a state in 1972. Horse trading has been an open business. Fortunately, the last Secular Progressive Front government despite being faced by various sensitive issues of the state and passing through lean phases, the government could survive the full five years term.

Many factors directly or indirectly may be responsible for this. The development works taken up by the government including many long standing demands of the people- conversion of Manipur University to a Central University, shifting of Assam Rifles from the historical sacred Kangla, construction of fly over on the busy Imphal city, implementation of employment generation schemes, construction of state capital complex etc., may be mentioned.

Though all these developmental works have been planned/projected by the previous governments, all credit goes to the soft-spoken Chief Minister Ibobi of Indian National Congress who led the SPF government. However, the most important factor which helped CM Ibobi to complete the full five years term, could be the anti-defection law and reduction in size of the ministers of the state governments.

Moreover, the presence of the Congress led United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre can be mentioned.

The extent to which corruption may rise up in a particular society depends largely on the mind-set of the people of the society. And here in our Manipur society everyone takes corrupt practices that are going on in the Government offices by the government employees as a part of his life or his duty and nobody seems pay much attention to this and as result there is corruption in public administration.

Moreover, the people of the state have a corrupted mind and they themselves encourage the bribing process. In the recently concluded assembly elections, many candidates spend lakhs of rupees in bribing people to vote for them. The people encouraged the bribing process by happily accepting the money. Now it is the turn of those elected candidates to recover the money they spent in elections. Thus, it is hard to find out who is responsible for corruption.

HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS is one factor for putting Manipur on the global map which is nothing to be proud of. In Manipur AIDS has emerged as a serious public health emergency. According to the Epidemiological Report published by Manipur State AIDS Control Society (MACS), there are more than 18,000 HIV positive cases in Manipur. It has also been pointed out that the commonest way of transmission of HIV is by using and sharing of infected needles among intravenous drug users (more than 60%) whereas in other parts of India more than 85 percent of HIV positives have been through sexual transmission.

Majority of the intravenous drug users in Manipur is young, mostly between the age groups of 15 to 35 years. They constitute the leading source of transmission of HIV from one person to another through heterosexual promiscuity. Unfortunately, HIV/AIDS epidemic is no longer confined to the Intravenous Drug Users (IDUs).

The infection has now spread to the female sexual partners of IDUs and their children and to others as well. An increasing number of people infected in the state belong to the younger and working age group. In short, the sharing of infected needles among intravenous drug users and widespread unprotected sexual contacts by infected addicts are the major routes of HIV transmission in Manipur today. However, in recent times it has been reported that the rate of HIV transmission through MSMs (men having sex with men) are on the rise.

According to the Status Report of Manipur State AIDS Control Society (MACS), 2004-2005, Manipur with hardly 0.2 percent of India, is contributing nearly 8 percent of India’s total HIV positive cases. Manipur is one of the six high prevalence states in India with 1.67 percent prevalence rate among the pregnant mothers attending ante- natal clinic (ANC).

The State Government has accorded top priority to IEC (information, education and communication) campaigns and social advocacy programmes for effective and efficient implementation of the AIDS Control Programmes in the State. It has been reported that since the intervention project among IDUs (RIAC project) has been taken up by Manipur State AIDS Control Society, HIV prevalence rate among the IDUs shows a declining trend from 1998 onwards. Though the sero-prevelence in Manipur has been brought down, it is still the highest in the world.

Government agencies/officials and NGOs working in the field of HIV/ AIDS claim the level of awareness have increased and they hold regular campaigns to sensitise the media and other segments of the society to remove stigma and discrimination. But facts belie ground realities.

As the possibility of development of a vaccine for the prevention of HIV/AIDS appears remote in the near future, alternate strategies must be formulated and implemented on urgent basis. The most viable and acceptable step would be to increase the education and awareness about the disease in the general population.

Conclusion

So what is the speciality of Manipur whose achievements in the sports arena are far greater than its size for being an excellence in almost all the disciplines in Indian sports, in spite of the problems of corruption at all levels and widespread HIV/AIDS epidemic.

For years we have seen players from this tiny state – as small as a district in Madhya Pradesh or Rajasthan– displaying their skill, stamina and proficiency in most of the disciplines/events. In a culture and a society constantly alienated from the mainland India, what drives the Manipuris for showing exceptional performances both in the national and international levels, despite no acknowledgement from the rest of India.

All this achievements can be credited to hard work, determination and commitment of our talented sportspersons, the sacrifice of sports lovers and support of our people. There is something in our blood that helps excel us in all disciplines of sports. Moreover, it is also saying that with insurgency, drugs and AIDS turning many young lives into a troublesome, and with many youth becoming victims, parents get a big sigh of relief when their children take to sports.

We can remember the result of the interesting opinion poll that “which of the two is the bigger issue – HIV/AIDS and Corruption”, published in the State dailies. The opinions were received from those who are in positions of power and influence to the men on the streets.

We cannot take the opinion poll as the final verdict but it showed that the people of Manipur are worried about corruption than HIV/AIDS. This could be related to the fact that many unemployed youths who didn’t get employment and nowhere to go became addicted to drugs and subsequently became infected with HIV through intravenous drug users. Moreover, the big tragedy is the uprising of the ugly head of corruption in tackling the menace of HIV/AIDS in the state.

Without a doubt, we can say sports has become a way of life in Manipur, the land which has plagued with AIDS and drug menace and high official corruption. Sports thus, has become one factor for shaping the future of the state and alleviating its people from the clutches of AIDS/drug menace.