Stalemate Continues (Sept 25)
It is waiting for Godot again in
Manipur. Everybody keep saying let's move, but nobody ever actually does. After the upsurge of popular sentiment calling for the integrity of the state, suddenly a calm has dropped. Thankfully, the state was saved of a communal nightmare that many feared was impending. One thing is for certain, the tremendous energy that was unleashed, if harnessed and channelized in the proper direction in peacetime, can without a doubt kick start the engine of development in the state.
Nobody seems to have a clue as to how to make this happen, this despite the oversized bureaucracy, that is supposed to be trained and paid to steer the state in a way that makes sure its sail catches favorable winds. And so the state is still left with no choice but to breathe the air of stagnation again.
Life has returned to normal and the population now once again lives from one salary day to another, or should we say one BRI ban to another. There has been a change in the pitch of the cycle though. From salaries, it has now become the norm and nobody anymore feels complaining is relevant or desirable. The attitude unmistakably is one of fatalism. Something is better than nothing seems to be the overwhelming mood. That nobody seems ever to think of taking an active role in shaping one's own future is worth considering.
It is normal once again. Our top bureaucrats have begun being out of station, destination mostly New Delhi, but sometimes beyond and across international borders and even major oceans, attending every attendable seminars and conferences, never mind their relevance to the state, after all, the bills will be footed by the state. One the one side there are job cuts and allowances cut of employees and on the other are these extravagances at the state's expense. A well known economist and a lecturer at the Manipur University, casually noted it would be interesting to study if it would not be worthwhile to have a permanent
mini-secretariat in New Delhi for the top bureaucrats (and when the ministry is formed, ministers) to work in; when they are on frequent extended trips and tours of the Capital.
Jokes aside, there ought to be a more realistic attendance registry system of the state's top bureaucrats. A change of attitude of treating outstation seminars and conferences as travel opportunities is urgently needed, even if it has to be by introducing office regulations. Not all these seminars can be relevant to the mission of running the state either. It cannot be very much different from the invitations that land in the press offices. Although many are extremely relevant, others are mere rackets and junkets. Ill-staffed enterprises that we are; the press fraternity here has learnt which of these are worth the time and the extra workloads that absence of one will heap on fellow colleagues in office.
Normalcy will also be in terms of court cases and strikes against even such trivial service matters as transfers and postings. It is again a pity that the popular perception today seems to be that salaries and allowances are not something to be earned with service contributed, but inalienable rights that come along with all government jobs. Government servants are privileged indeed.
(Courtesy:
The
Imphal Free Press)
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