As Manipur continues with the reign of the same government in the midst of scores of challenges, I am obliged to share my opinion on a general picture of (poor) governance in Manipur and talk a bit about Good governance as a remedy to ailing state of Manipur.

It would not be an exaggeration to begin by saying that Manipur is replete with examples of poor governance, which has eroded the capacity of communities and individuals, especially the poor, and disadvantaged, to meet their basic needs and aspirations. Inefficient deployment of resources and crippling debt burdens to social divisions drawn on ethnic and sectarian lines, arbitrary law enforcement and failed political leadership highlight the poor governance in Manipur.

Democracy is best understood as government of the people, for the people, and by the people. To the contrary, in Manipur, it is not about people, but about access to state power. Entrance into the political arena is driven by a desire for personal gain, not by a genuine commitment to serving the people. State resources are the most valued prizes for the politicians.

Manipur is a state where politicians do not need to think twice in bribing or distributing (I would say, Investing) money to the people at the election time, knowing the fact thatelection is not about a pledge to serve the people but about access to state power and wealth.

Democracy, in Manipur, begins and ends with the ballot box. Governance, in Manipur, faces challenges of corruption, fickle coalitions, violence, to name a few.

Till today, large section of the state people continue to be excluded from decision-making even under the democratic government. Even though 100% of the state population, ideally, is now free to elect their leaders, they have yet to participate fully in the political process. The moral foundation of the state has been eroded by electoral fraud, the advent of money politics, the steady criminalization of political system, and increasing corruption in public life.

In Manipur, the responsiveness of the people's representatives to the demands of people continues to be dictated by political exigency, personal ties, and patronage. The civil services, too, being highly politicized, corrupted and demoralized almost everywhere, and maintain distance from the people. In addition to this, the corrupt nexus of politician-bureaucrats-police has led to the erosion of public institution and people's trust in them.

Corruption, which has become a socially accepted culture in Manipur, is one of the greatest hindrances towards good governance. Corruption is a clear manifestation of poor governance. Poor governance is marked by institutionalization of corruption, reduced participation and empowerment, lack of transparency, widespread discretionary powers, high level of monopoly controls, lack of understanding of and access to legal system and to government documents, low level of awareness as to Rights, reduced efficiency, reduced efficiency, increased uncertainty about decision-making, lower access to and quality of basic services, lack of enforcement of basic human rights, low economic growth, low human development and so on.

At this juncture, the greatest challenge, manipur is facing, is not the insurgency or unemployment problem but the strife or the emotional tension between the various communities in Manipur, though evrey problems are related one way or the other.. This, too, is related to poor governance, as such, discrimination, self-identity centered, exploitations etc. The simple reason for all these unwanted situation and environment is due to poor governance or absence of good governance. So, the need of the hour, to get rib of these menaces, is to bring about good governance, the reverse of poor governance.

Different people have defined "governance" differently. The World Bank defines governance, in narrower sense, "as the manner in which power is exercised in the management of a country's economic and social resources." In broader sense, the Commission on Global Governance, in 1995, defines governance as "the sum of many ways individuals and institutions, public and private, manage their common affairs.

It is a continuing process through which conflicting or diverse interests may be accommodated and cooperative action may be taken. It includes formal as well as informal arrangements that people and institutions either have agreed to or perceive to be in their interest."

In good governance, human development, is the most important, and if such, it has to be not just pro-people or people-centered but also has to be owned by the people. The elite, however well meaning, to the people, cannot hand down good governance from above. The people have to shape their own governance. Vulnerable people have to be protected and saved from humiliation in their daily life. It promotes a decent society in which the worst off can preserve dignity.

Good governance is dedicated to serving human development. It requires effective participation of people in state, civil society, and private sector to help built capacities, which will meet the basic needs of all people, particularly women, children, and the poor. It ensures that human development is sustainable. Every governing institution, every policy action should be judged by one critical test: How does it meet the genuine aspirations of people, who are the sovereign?

Governance must be: Seen by people as participatory and in their own interest;
1 Conducive to building of a society in which none feel humiliated or neglected;

2 Embodied in structures which are transparent and accountable to the people;

People's active participation is the guiding force behind the concept of good governance. Good governance is a powerful concept which can help enrich the life of the concern people and lay the basis for fairer and more just societies in which human, political, and economic rights of all people are protected and their freedom of choices expanded. For more understanding of good governance, some indicators of good governance can be drawn;

1 Decentralization and deconcentration of power to afford people ample opportunities to participate in making decisions that affect their life, which is what the real democracy means. To this afford, establishing or reviving and strengthening local self-government can be adopted.

2 Accountability and transparency of elected representatives and public officials. To this afford, implementing the Right to Information Act in its true spirit and establishing or strengthening Anti-corruption Institutions like Ombudsman/Lok Ayukta can be effective tools to dealt with corruption, nepotism and bribery which are the defining nature of governance in Manipur.

3 Full access of all citizens to justice that is impartial, speedy and affordable. Public offices should be people-friendly, and office procedures made simple.

4 Respect for human rights. Draconian act like AFSPA, which is undemocratic and anti-people, should be down away because there is no higher value than human life. Human Rights is not just about non-physical harashment or torture but about every aspects of human existence. For example, the unfulfilment of ST quotas (employment) in Manipur is violation of human rights(Right to live) particularly that of the minorities. How can we talk of against AFSPA violating our rights when rights are even violated among us! we need to remember that external aggression(any forms)cannot break the internal fabric if we all are united but internal strife can end up breaking the glass into many pieces.

5 Elimination of all forms of discrimination against women, minorities, disadvantaged people and neglected areas. As such, they should be given more emphasis to bring about egalitarian and just society, without which social harmony cannot be maintained. Periphery(hills or rural) should not be neglected at the cost of the center(imphal). it should also be remembered that the tension between the various cammunities(hill and the plain)is related to this problem too.

6 Maintenance and fostering peace, development and social cohesion among the various communities in the state. Development is as a much pre-requisite for bringing peace as much as peace is a pre-requisite for bringing development. An glaring examplary can be taken from the activities of the UN , World Bank, IMF etc where these organizations have been involving in eradicating poverty, illiteracy, umemplyment, diseases, post-war peace building etc in various part of the world in which effort they hope to bring in peace through development.

7 Adequate budgetary provision for social priority areas, especially education, health, electricity, transport and communication, safe drinking water etc, especially to the most disadvantages areas.

The above points are just scratches of the illness Manipur is suffering,but they all have to do with the existing tension between the hill and the plain in particular or various communities in general. Solving these problems can go long way towards a better Manipur.

Accountability and responsiveness of elected representatives to people's needs and concerns are crucial elements of the political dimension of good governance. Thus, the following questions deserve policy attention; how many of the promises made during the election campaign are fulfilled? How active are the legislators in pursuing issues of concern to their constituents? How are the people's representatives being made accountable?

A good government is, in true sense, not defined by how regular periodical elections are held or completing its full terms but solely by the deeds it performs.

Participation in political activities on an ongoing basis is a valuable function. It relates to basic human rights such as freedom of speech, freedom of association, freedom of belief etc. Good governance also involves civil society's role in protecting basic human rights, particularly the rights of the disadvantage members of society. So much so is the human rights important, especially since the end of the cold war, that even the UN has gone for humanitarian intervention in many independent sovereign states like Former Yugoslavia, Sudan, Somalia, Cambodia, Sierra Leone etc on the ground of protecting human rights.

A government can be insufficient in the face of declining living standards. A government is expected to deliver what people want, such as economic better and to exercise one's freedom to choose. The government need to take holistic approach towards global governance which entails an engaged citizenry working for a responsive, efficient government; a market that creates jobs and generates income; a civil society that encourages informed debate, socially responsible businesses, and non-profit, community-building association; and an independent media playing the role of protecting people's rights and holding rulers accountable.

Good governance, interestingly, recognizes that the human institutions are imperfect and often driven by the self interest of those in-charge, but at the same time, the search must continue for a participatory, responsive, and accountable polity embedded in a competitive, non-discriminatory yet equitable economy. This also requires that people's money is plowed back to serve their basic needs which will expand the opportunities open to them, and where people have the ability and the freedom to self-organize.

Good governance demands politically conscious and thinking society, such society which cannot be brought about in a state where education, in true sense, is still in infant stage, being neglected and corrupted upon. The real asset of the state are the people and not the big Assembly, minister quarters, government buildings and alike. No society can progress without education for all, in real sense, and not for few privileged. Access to education is a right and not a privilege. The state need change, not modification, as we cannot go on wearing the same old torn smelling shirt. Without change, no development and progress can be brought about. Good governance can be effective means to bring about peace and social harmony in a state like Manipur where social unrest and tension prevails among the different communities.

Lastly, I would like to place before us a few queries to see whether Manipur is heading towards Poor governance or Good governance;

1 Do people( of every community) fully participate in governance?
2 Are people fully informed?
3 Do the people make decisions, or can they at least hold the decision-makers accountable?
4 Are women, who hold half of the sky, equal partners with men in governance? Sadly, not a single woman elected to the Assembly though they constitute majority in most constituencies.
5 Are the needs of future generations taken into account in current policies?
6 Are the needs of the poor and disadvantaged met?
7 Are people's human rights especially that of the minorities guaranteed?
8 In short, do people(not few or one community) own their structure of governance?
In short, a good government is a SMART government; -
S=Simple
M=Moral
A=Accountability
R=Responsive
T=Transparency.

At this crucial juncture, self-centered leaders will want concentration of power, non-transparency/accountability, and all sorts of poor governance to enable them to continue enjoying the taste of power by keeping the people in the dark and work behind bamboo curtail as power corrupts power and absolute power absolutely. The taste of power cannot be easily forgotten or give up even at the cost of the people's aspirations.

We know that we are very ethnically consious people and even our politicians are, and even takes advantages of this. any attempt to dilute another's culture or identity would produce ill results. Respecting each other's culture, identity, giving space to breath, and above all able to stand above our narrowed interest ot identities is a must for a peacful Manipur.

The noble state citizens and the state just need a SMART government and good governance, and that can be achieved if only we dare to think detached from any kind of strings and act in the like manner.