An MLA/MP works only for Chief Guest: A shame

H. Thangzahao Haokip *

Having much keenness and desire in rebuilding lives and transforming land like leaders of other states, MLA/MP from Manipur also began with a political objectives before coming into public life for the supreme sacrifice that is not to be wash away easily and forgotten but shall always lingers in the mind of the leader who will move forward and take no rest till his set goals are accomplished.

However, this ran helter-skeltel as they now find pleasantries in being invited and go for as a chief guest than any other pressing issues at hand in their respective areas is something we should review very seriously in the light of the fact that their prime objective to be in the electoral fry to become people's representative in the first place wholly rest with the sole and solemn burden in uplifting the lives of the masses and by rebuilding lands, which got forgotten in the mind once getting elected.

Unfortunately, both our elected representative and we (the public) in unison led mushrooming up a system capable enough in forgetting the sole objectives repose on the shoulder of our humble public servant, thereby wasting a precious 5 years term without having to undertake or accomplish something beneficial for the people. Who would get the blame? It is high time we put thoughts together on this count.

Today, a village-level function is organized. MLA/MP are being invited to be the chief guest, instead of a speech aiming at the general development of the village the audience or the village-people felt more enlightened with the money which the chief guest would donate. That is something an easy task which our elected representative prefers to subscribe it in letter and spirit every time they deal with the people. This is nothing but grave ignorance on our part which help swayed our netas from engaging in pro-people policies. This rises because of our mistakes.

On the contrary, it is believe our neta will not forget their bounden-duty toward the people if we are not just complacent but can think a little more beyond the money he donated as a chief guest. The greater setbacks that appear as a tradition nowadays is the technique of high talk ranging from land to resources while a neta speak before the audience which got a greater applause from the people though the speech he gave is devoid of achievable set-target. For a state like Manipur deliberating upon national and international importance or banking on high talk while dealing with the people will neither do well nor bring forth transformation of our land.

What is desired most at such time of function is if the chief guest can make announcement of his broad vision of change he had for the well-being of the people based on the general need of the village in areas like water supply, roads, wealth status of the individual family, community hall, playground, school in doldrums state, we may see a better light of the day rather than too much harping on eloquence.

But the sad thing is our neta do not however have the temerity to put in place such welfare measures in their plan of action by themselves. A true committed leader may work ceaselessly for upbringing the downtrodden with a specific objective even without the people's knowledge. Conversely, if in any case our neta do not have a policy of their own for us it is our moral right to let them know again.

Today we have in our respective area a representative of our choice. Our representatives who draw strength from us become blind because of our ignorance. There is no leader to be seen utilizing fund in the right earnest for development works. We still go too much for chief guest, guest of honour or the like that our neta are being whisked away from working for the upliftment of the people and the land.

When the world, all surrounding states and places is fast developing at an alarming speed we can still witness in Imphal city not only a Rickshaw mode of transportation but also inundation all along the street apart from muddy, stinky and rugged surfaces on rainy days. Our biggest misfortune is that there is no leader who dare says "this is 21st century it is time to part with all these anomalies". As we enters this 21st century not alone the state highway it is time now all villages of Manipur gets electrification and all its road blacktopped.

The clamour to have a vision-driven leader ran high in the minds of the people. The inability of the present congress government in 12 years' time to give to its people even the barest need for clean drinking water, good asphalted roads and regular current supply to its 2391 villages under its control is a thing of great shame for 60 MLAs and 3 MPs who are running the governance, rest to increase their own coffers from the fund pump in by the Centre for development of its villages. The result is the rising discourteous luxury enjoyed by all at the home front. In the minds of our netas the values of servant hood leadership has gone eroded long ago.

Will there be any one among our netas' who have the willingness to help and lay patience-hearing towards the grievances of the much-hyped 'kendra gi mi' or constituency people in matter of social-concern of the person much without the grease of palm. I have practically seen many appalled electorates leaving the doors of the netas shocked, pained and shamed for not being heard as anticipated.

One very bad precedent regarding the conduct of our netas in Manipur is that they formed a few choices of people to execute any kind of work on their behalf, which one among those few people acts as (is) the right hand of the neta. The Kendra people, who are not in touch with such few people or works/files not routed through the right hand of the neta, always met the same fate – the fate of neglect and rejection.

In democracy the role of a neta is exclusive and people-specific where arms should be stretch readily to help and attends to the needs and satisfaction of the people. It will be good if a neta acted more like a father than as a leader and can counted about 30000 to 50000 electorates whatsoever number available in the kendras as his own children, only then he would best do more justice much fairer than what is in practice now. Favouritism – the tools spoiling the whole system including the favour accorded to few selected people in the kendra must go for the good of all.

To make Manipur a place fit to live without want of living in other Indian states the ball solely lies in the court of our elected representatives.