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Setting examples
(November 1)
Good leaders set examples for their followers to follow and it is only when leaders themselves make a certain degree of sacrifices do we see the followers or rather the people willingly come forward to do their mite for the overall betterment of the state or society.
History is replete with examples of leaders who led from the front till his last breath and so did the unvanquished Alexander the Great. Closure to our time we saw American President George W Bush going out to dinner to demonstrate to the American people that the Anthrax fear which is gripping the super power cannot paralyze the Americans from leading their routine lives.
In many ways the present cease work strike launched by the JAC of AMTUC and AMEGO and supported by employees of different departments has as much to do with the suspension of their privileges as the absence of good leaders who are ready to set an example for the employees to emulate. That the strike is gaining intensity needs no mention.
Already all government departments have been paralyzed since the pen down strike intensified into a cease work strike from October 22. The closing down of OPD at JN hospital will surely leave the sick and ailing in the lurch especially the poorer section of society who do not have the resources to go to private clinics.
Already the Medical Directorate Employees and Nurses Association of Manipur have announced their decision to close down the emergency, casualty and immunization center at JN hospital and other health centers spread across the state from November 2 if their demands are not by then. With the Government showing no signs of buckling under the pressure mounted by the employees more trouble is in store for the Government people.
In as much as the Government employees may have certain genuine grievances it is also time for them to reflect on their exact role and duty in the society. They are public servants and by this term alone they should be rendering their services to the public. The suspension of their allowances and other amenities is not only hitting them but the entire population given the fact that the economy of the state is driven by the salary of the Government employees.
A certain amount of adjustment and yes a certain degree of sacrifice on their part will prove fruitful to the people and the state as a whole. It needs no mention here that the financial condition of the state has plunged to an all time low and if deducting their allowances will give a positive impact on the economic health of the state then it is only expected of the employees to forgo their allowances with magnanimity.
These are tough times and tough decisions are needed to overcome the tight situation. However, what Governor Marwah and his bunch of confidantes should realize is the plain point that the grievance of the employees has as much to do with suspending their allowances as with the manner in which the decision was effected.
As the employees pointed out the perks and privileges accorded to the higher rung officials can be suspended to better the financial health. The whole point here is leaders should set examples instead of expecting the lower rung officials to sacrifice and bail the state out. Expecting the people to willingly sacrifice while the leaders continue to live in comfort will be ludicrous.
(Courtesy:
The Sangai Express)
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