Mandate of Elections 2017 in Manipur
- Part 1 -

Dr Mohammad Imtiyaj Khan *

Polling in Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency at Thoubal district on April 09 2014 :: Pix - Niranjan Oinam

Manipur is ruled by multiple parallel govts- democratically elected undemocratic govt (Manipur: The land of Keibu Keioiba, Thabaton and the cannibalistic democracy, The Sangai Express, April 30, 2015), trigger happy village defence force (VDF)/military, insurgents (yes, they are there), and the latest addition is the unruly mob. The elected govt is (in)fighting anti-incumbency or 'modiotic' wave, while VDF and military combine is administering the law and order in their trademark style.

Gone are the days of terror and violence unleashed by cat-and-mouse game of insurgents and military in Manipur. Just as we began to revisit the beauty of Manipur with a sigh of relief (e.g. a visit to Kakching garden) and became more resolute about the repeal of AFSPA 1958, here comes a photo bomb - mob violence- to disturb the natural harmony.

Now, we realise that this is in fact the elephant in the room, posing a hard question to all of us: is AFSPA better or mob violence? In addition to this, Manipur has myriad problems to be dealt before ushering into an era of enlightenment (read as equal opportunity). The present situation in Manipur is ripe for a golden harvest by extreme and retrograde ideologies preached and practised by cultural organisations through political patronage of national parties. As a consequence, social equations may break down and Manipur may fall into a communal chaos. In view of this, Manipuris need to explore alternatives to Congress and BJP.

On one hand, Congress' repeated denial of CM-ship to Mr Gaikhangam, who is allegedly much more efficient and polished than CM Mr Ibobi Singh, is waiting to snowball into a confrontation-like situation as seen during anti-ILPS protest across the hills among hillsmen and plainsmen. On the other hand, BJP's development jumla (bait) is too attractive for many shallow minded-Manipuris to refuse at this moment.

In this scenario, we (Manipuris) should formulate mandates for elections 2017 meticulously and be watchful of our electoral choices. It is true that we cannot see a complete transformation in a five-year term but a strong foundation for achieving the mandates will be good enough to start with. Here it is my duty to remind the readers-cum-voters that the core issues of development law and order, public transport, corruption-free governance, health, education, and income generation are still the major issues just as they used to be 40 years back.

Reformation of Police

Most of the problems in Manipur could be attributed to inefficient law and order. Police force of Manipur is extremely incapable of tackling social crimes partly because of lack of personnel and partly due to pending modernisation (police reform). The police force is poorly trained and they lack academic qualification on criminology. Their morale has hit rock bottom over years and now they are almost defunct.

No wonder, nowadays, village defence forces (VDFs) are acting as policemen while the policemen sit back and do clerical works. This means that our VDFs who have been recruited just to provide some employment Congress govt's quick-fix solution for unemployment without any clear cut job profile, aim and objective, and with poorer academic qualification than policemen are being given the charge (unofficially?) of securing our lives. What a risky management of security it is!

Over time, this security scenario has created good intentioned-vigilante organisations to contain social crimes through immediate delivery of justice or through pressure tactics. Meira paibis, nishaband, anjuman, so-called students' bodies, and cultural organisations are all outcomes of inefficient police force in the state.

A small state like Manipur, composed of closely-knit indigenous communities and no metropolitan culture, shouldn't be very difficult for police to control social crimes such as drug menace, rapes, mob lynching, mob violence, and inter-community conflicts of interest, if the police force is reasonably active and responsive. It is high time Manipuris established a reliable law and order machinery and stopped resorting to mob violence for solving any and every problem of Manipur right from Inner Line Permit System (ILPS), anti-ILPS, rape to petty social crimes like vehicle theft.

In addition, inefficient justice delivery system, in which state's police force is supposed to play the key role of law enforcement body and investigate crimes without any fear or favour within stipulated time, is responsible for mushrooming citizens' bodies in the name of Joint Action Committees (JACs) against social crimes. These JACs are absolutely not required if courts deliver justice in due time.

Although the idea of JAC is innocuous, ultimately what a JAC does in most of the cases today is to give pressure to the govt (An open letter to Manipuris: Stop the bandh culture, E-pao.net, June 30, 2013) and bargain for compensation. JACs have reduced justice for a crime to a mere calculation of admissible compensation. This has grave effect on the natural justice system of punishment for the guilty. In short, JAC culture is trampling the natural justice and giving birth to a new community of blood money-makers and mob violence (e.g. JCILPS and JAC against ILPS).

Revive MSRTC

Connectivity is essential for development through increased mobility and reduced travel time. Unfortunate and unexpected disbanding of MSRTC as a result of dwindling returns was the last nail in the coffin of public transport system of Manipur. Today, Manipur moves on maxi cabs popularly known as 'magic/winger', which are not good modes of transport by any standards. Add to this, pollution (noise, air, soil), road accidents, and traffic woes.

Ironically, state transport policy released in June 2013 recommended the use of maxi cabs instead of laying down strong foundations for revival of MSRTC, even as 'against magic/winger culture in Manipur' was published in E-pao.net (May 12, 2013) and The Sangai Express (May 13, 2013). Even after the release of the state transport policy, ills of public transport have been highlighted (Revive Manipur's public transport system, E-pao.net, January 8, 2015).

However, to replace this quick-fix solution for transportation problems, Congress govt in its third term could not come up with a reliable and sustainable transportation system in Manipur. The way transportation has been neglected by govt term after term indicates lack of will to pursue core issues of development. The situation is aggravated by frequent strikes, protests, burning or destruction of public properties by mob.

It is high time Manipuris realised the importance of public transport as a cheap, reliable, safe and sustainable means of commutation. Lack of properly planned and well-laid road network is one reason for inconvenience, unnecessary delay, and shifting gear to personalised transport, which adds up to cost of travel, road congestion, and unhealthy competition to own costly personal vehicles. During odd-even car rationing scheme implemented in January 2016 in Delhi, it was apparent that general public opt for personalised vehicles only because of unreliable and inconvenient public transport system, but not for show of social status. Manipuris need to wake up to this fact.

Implement lokpal act

Although it was belated acknowledgement, recently the issue of corruption at state secretariat was mentioned by the chief minister. This was a grim reminder of the need of Lokpal mandated by Manipur Lokpal act 2014. The main reasons for corruption in Manipur are the greed for easy money, bribery in recruitment, poor accountability and productivity of govt offices, lack of awareness among general public about the duties and responsibilities of office staffs, and political support for corrupt higher-ups.

Today, in Manipur, a gazetted officer with a gross salary of Rs. 40,000 to 45,000 can buy cars, properties, and spend a lot of money on their children's education concurrently or within a relatively short period of time. The known sources of income of the officer will not be enough for all these expenses if they do not take bribe in one or the other way. Govt should take up initiatives to examine the wealth of all the officers and book them for any disproportionate assets.

Another step should be to filter unqualified 'bribe-giving' applicants by conducting recruitments strictly based on merit and competition. To this effect, govt should initiate well-reasoned steps to plug-in loopholes in the system which allows backdoor entry of incompetent candidates.

To be continued.....