Mr. K. Zou
Social Activist
I would like to congratulate you and your government on the occasion of winning the confidence motion. I hope and pray that your induction to the post of Hon'ble Chief Minister of Kangleipak (Manipur) amidst social and political turbulence and unending ethnic rivalry, unfathomable degrees of corruption, misuse of official power and unemployment problems, etc. will be a reformist government unlike that of the past.. I hope your honour do feel the need to reform the prevailing system of administration in our state as the situation is worsening day by day.
The problem we faced in our state is not a mere glib talks but a serious one. A peon can delay important official files for months or a Bihari CRPF / BSF constable dictates how we should conduct our selves; there is no value of educational qualification in employment. On the other hand, officers of the state government conduct themselves as an individual or as an officer of a particular community and not as officer of the state government. Moreover, there is no justice and security to sincere and honest people, the poor, the weak and the minorities in the name of Peace and Security. It appears to me that very few people really love the Soil of Manipur and the rest of the people of Kangleipak (Manipur) are howling like a hungry lion, looking for chances to loot the people and the land. Some people talk about integration of Manipur while others about disintegration, self-determination, spirituality, ethnic dominance and so on without having time to think about the reality which every one of us are suffering in our day today life. We study for 20 years but no jobs, we know the truth but can't tell, we want to grow but helpless, We have salary but no money in the treasury, some may have but can't invest, one may think of borrowing money from the bank but fear extortion. Finally, left with no option, we move to the mainland where we are reduced to a mere Nepalese or foreigners.
Therefore, keeping the practical problems of the people in view, I humbly pray that the Hon'ble Chief Minister spare some of your valuable time on the following humble suggestions as laid down below based on my ten years of observation.
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
A Special Refresher Course should be imparted to all the police personnel from the rank of Head constable to the rank of DSP especially in the field of human rights and disciplines. Newly posted IPS/IAS and other outside officials should be properly brief about the people, the cultures and traditions of the people.
Civil 0fficials from the rank of Head clerk to head of department of a district including judges of district courts, Munsiff courts should be given orientation course to make them more concern about public life, efficiency and responsibility toward humanity.
Officers above the rank of head of department of a district to the highest level including the Chief Secretary should be deputed to other states like J&K, Punjab, UP Bihar, etc. if they are found inefficient, corrupted or insincere to their work or if they are found inciting violence thereby threatening public harmony.
If any outside IAS/IPS officers posted in the state of Manipur is found to be corrupted or misusing his official powers against a particular community or inciting communal disharmony, he/she should be immediately returned to the Home Ministry and a case be filed against him/her.
Staffs of Manipur guest house in the various State Guest house, Emporium or any establishment of Manipur Government in any state must have at least 50% of their staffs from the state of Manipur.
All head of departments of every district should be held responsible for the smooth functioning of the department. If the department is found ineffective or unable to perform well in a particular district, the department may be shifted to some other district where their presence is necessary.
All forms of Adhoc or substitutes in employment should be completely stopped and die-in- harness and pensions should be processed without delay.
The office of the Chief Minister must have a separate Public Grievance Cell, to redress the grievance of the people without unnecessary delay and it should be kept open for 24hrs to all its citizens.
All heads of Districts, subdivisions etc must have a monthly meeting with its staffs as well as public leaders to assess the monthly progress.
A separate fund should be allotted to those districts, villages, which are under one Assembly constituency but in different district or sub divisional administrative blocks.
All NGOs including religious organization and institutions working within the state of Manipur should be compelled to report their activities and financial sources or helped received from any sources to the state/ district authority concern.
The movement and conduct of central armed forces or police should be kept under strict surveillance and they should not be allowed to commit any offence in the name of Arm forces special Acts or POTO, which are basically the duty of the state police. The State government must keep in mind the typical Mongoloid race of its people when ever dealing with the central forces.
The local police should be trained to be public friendly and prompt in action in restoring justice without any bias toward any community. Failing which immediate action must follow against the erring officials.
All recruitment should be made as transparent as possible especially in the MPSC exam. If necessary all recruitments from the rank of clerk and above can be entrusted to the Staff Selection Commission, Delhi who can definitely give us better results.
In case of reservation for SC/ST, the government should give more importance on economic criteria rather than giving to children's of politicians, contractors or bureaucrats in the name of reservation who are much more forward than the people living in remote villages. Reservation can also be made for socially and economically weaker section of the society. E.g. Meitei speaking people living in remote areas like Chairen and else where, who are neither in the reservation category but deserve some consideration on humanitarian ground.
EDUCATION
Education should be given top priority and equal opportunities should be ensured to all sections of the society irrespective of their economic back ground.
The government must fixed school fees for Private Educational Institutions and at the same time compel the Government Schools to compete with the private schools or all the Government schools can be converted into grand- in- aid subjected to their performances.
All unqualified and aging teachers can be given voluntary retirement or they can be substituted by their qualified children if any or share their salary with qualified candidates.
The Central Education policy on Night Schools or School-less teachers should be completely stopped. The entire grant in aid schools without qualified teachers should be directed to recruit fresh qualified teachers.
Minimum qualification for teaching in Primary and above should not be below BA/BSc. Degree and must be interviewed by qualified board of members.
Minimum Qualification for teaching in Colleges or University level should not be below M.Phil. Degrees in the concerned subjects. The University grants Commission rules for Lecturer eligibility need not be considered very important because it is the policy of the mainland people to systematically deprived the locals people from teaching Job at the higher level. The state can formulate its own rules in this regard.
Syllabus and curriculum for high/higher secondary schools can be taken from Central Schools with some emphasis on Manipur history, geography and society. Polytechnic institutions should be given priority either through NGOs or Government Agencies.
DEVELOPMENT
The trans-border- trade with Myanmar should be promoted through political means with the central government. No custom tax should be levied for household goods, electronics and fabrics/cloths coming from Myanmar.
An autonomous Social and tribal welfare department should be set up in all the district headquarters where Post Matric Scholarship, or any scheme/project costing below rupees 50,000 can be released at the district head quarter level itself. This will help people living in remote areas to solve minor problems like submission of scholarship forms and withdrawing the amount, Housing schemes, old age pensions etc.
Community development should be encouraged and public participation in any developmental work should be considered important. E.g. Construction of waiting sheds, Toilets, public- well, community hall, etc. The Local Self body/Municipalities must involve the public in keeping the town and cities clean.
To control the menace of educated unemployment, the government should introduce subsidized soft loans to talented youths for carrying out any trade especially cottage industries. This can be easily done with the help of the nationalized banks and the reserved bank of India as they have been doing in the mainland states with impressive result.
Landless farmers should be given tractors through subsidized loan as it has been done in the state of Punjab, Mizoram, etc. with minimal charges for seeds. All possible effort should be made for double cropping.
The government must set up a special Research Institution for developing traditional medicines should be under the various central schemes for promotion of traditional medicines with the help of the central government.
A Cooperative Marketing Development Agency should be set up to ensure that all agricultural products are marketed properly. Products like Ginger, Mustard seed, sesame, maize, etc. should be purchased by the Agency at reasonable price and marketed to other states.
The Government should review the Khuga Dam Project in consultation with the central government and also book all the erring officials responsible for the delay in the project.
OTHER DEPARTMENTS
Inter state buses plying between Guwahati and Manipur (so called tourist buses) should be allowed only under strict rules so that they don't dump the passengers at their own convenience before reaching the destination. All buses should be given clearance by the police before leaving Manipur soil and should be punished for any failure to comply with the rules or on the complaints of desperate passengers.
The Department of Post & Telegraph and Communication in the state should be instructed to deliver the best services. All letters and Money Orders should be delivered without any delay. Every district headquarter must have a Sub-Speed Post branch for 24 hrs. Post box should be made available to the public in all the localities or leikais and should be cleared at least twice a day.
Telephone connection should be made on demand and upgrade all the telephone exchanges with the latest equipments, which are also in use in the mainlands. All villages in the state should be provided with at least one communication system or either radio or through police wireless.
Medical Facilities should be given utmost importance in the state. All District Hospitals, Primary Health Centers and Sub-centers must have qualified staffs for 24 hrs and life saving drugs should be made available on demand specially, to the lower income groups. The district medical officer should be held responsible for maintaining the hospital and submit report every month to the Directorate of Health Services. Any irregularity in the service or negligence of medical staffs should be reported to the Special Grievance Cell of the Hon'ble chief Minister in a registered letter.
Our premier Medical Institution (RIMS) should be fitted with the latest medical equipment and staffs so that the North East people need not travel to Delhi, Vellore or other places for medical treatment. The government must give effort to have some of the best doctors in India at RIMS Hospital and if any specialized doctor refused posting in Manipur, the Ministry of Health, Government of India, should be asked to explain the reason.
The Water supply system in the entire Manipur state is pathetic and requires serious attention. The government must consult experts on water harvesting.
Electricity supply in the state is also very poor especially outside Imphal areas. The government needs to review the Loktak Hydro electric project with the centre, so that it can be improved. Unless there is improvement in the power supply no irrigation, no industry can take place.
Any one involved in extortion, committing serious crimes should be booked under the law of the land.
These suggestions, if implemented and enforce in good faith, will definitely integrate Kangleipak and every body will live without fear and held their head high.
Issued in the interest of the people of Manipur
------------------------------------------
The Author is the President of All India Tribal Student Union, cerrently residing in New Delhi. He is also the founding President of the Zomi Sangnaupang Pawlpi, Delhi Branch. (The Zou Students' Association)
Social Activist
I would like to congratulate you and your government on the occasion of winning the confidence motion. I hope and pray that your induction to the post of Hon'ble Chief Minister of Kangleipak (Manipur) amidst social and political turbulence and unending ethnic rivalry, unfathomable degrees of corruption, misuse of official power and unemployment problems, etc. will be a reformist government unlike that of the past.. I hope your honour do feel the need to reform the prevailing system of administration in our state as the situation is worsening day by day.
The problem we faced in our state is not a mere glib talks but a serious one. A peon can delay important official files for months or a Bihari CRPF / BSF constable dictates how we should conduct our selves; there is no value of educational qualification in employment. On the other hand, officers of the state government conduct themselves as an individual or as an officer of a particular community and not as officer of the state government. Moreover, there is no justice and security to sincere and honest people, the poor, the weak and the minorities in the name of Peace and Security. It appears to me that very few people really love the Soil of Manipur and the rest of the people of Kangleipak (Manipur) are howling like a hungry lion, looking for chances to loot the people and the land. Some people talk about integration of Manipur while others about disintegration, self-determination, spirituality, ethnic dominance and so on without having time to think about the reality which every one of us are suffering in our day today life. We study for 20 years but no jobs, we know the truth but can't tell, we want to grow but helpless, We have salary but no money in the treasury, some may have but can't invest, one may think of borrowing money from the bank but fear extortion. Finally, left with no option, we move to the mainland where we are reduced to a mere Nepalese or foreigners.
Therefore, keeping the practical problems of the people in view, I humbly pray that the Hon'ble Chief Minister spare some of your valuable time on the following humble suggestions as laid down below based on my ten years of observation.
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
A Special Refresher Course should be imparted to all the police personnel from the rank of Head constable to the rank of DSP especially in the field of human rights and disciplines. Newly posted IPS/IAS and other outside officials should be properly brief about the people, the cultures and traditions of the people.
Civil 0fficials from the rank of Head clerk to head of department of a district including judges of district courts, Munsiff courts should be given orientation course to make them more concern about public life, efficiency and responsibility toward humanity.
Officers above the rank of head of department of a district to the highest level including the Chief Secretary should be deputed to other states like J&K, Punjab, UP Bihar, etc. if they are found inefficient, corrupted or insincere to their work or if they are found inciting violence thereby threatening public harmony.
If any outside IAS/IPS officers posted in the state of Manipur is found to be corrupted or misusing his official powers against a particular community or inciting communal disharmony, he/she should be immediately returned to the Home Ministry and a case be filed against him/her.
Staffs of Manipur guest house in the various State Guest house, Emporium or any establishment of Manipur Government in any state must have at least 50% of their staffs from the state of Manipur.
All head of departments of every district should be held responsible for the smooth functioning of the department. If the department is found ineffective or unable to perform well in a particular district, the department may be shifted to some other district where their presence is necessary.
All forms of Adhoc or substitutes in employment should be completely stopped and die-in- harness and pensions should be processed without delay.
The office of the Chief Minister must have a separate Public Grievance Cell, to redress the grievance of the people without unnecessary delay and it should be kept open for 24hrs to all its citizens.
All heads of Districts, subdivisions etc must have a monthly meeting with its staffs as well as public leaders to assess the monthly progress.
A separate fund should be allotted to those districts, villages, which are under one Assembly constituency but in different district or sub divisional administrative blocks.
All NGOs including religious organization and institutions working within the state of Manipur should be compelled to report their activities and financial sources or helped received from any sources to the state/ district authority concern.
The movement and conduct of central armed forces or police should be kept under strict surveillance and they should not be allowed to commit any offence in the name of Arm forces special Acts or POTO, which are basically the duty of the state police. The State government must keep in mind the typical Mongoloid race of its people when ever dealing with the central forces.
The local police should be trained to be public friendly and prompt in action in restoring justice without any bias toward any community. Failing which immediate action must follow against the erring officials.
All recruitment should be made as transparent as possible especially in the MPSC exam. If necessary all recruitments from the rank of clerk and above can be entrusted to the Staff Selection Commission, Delhi who can definitely give us better results.
In case of reservation for SC/ST, the government should give more importance on economic criteria rather than giving to children's of politicians, contractors or bureaucrats in the name of reservation who are much more forward than the people living in remote villages. Reservation can also be made for socially and economically weaker section of the society. E.g. Meitei speaking people living in remote areas like Chairen and else where, who are neither in the reservation category but deserve some consideration on humanitarian ground.
EDUCATION
Education should be given top priority and equal opportunities should be ensured to all sections of the society irrespective of their economic back ground.
The government must fixed school fees for Private Educational Institutions and at the same time compel the Government Schools to compete with the private schools or all the Government schools can be converted into grand- in- aid subjected to their performances.
All unqualified and aging teachers can be given voluntary retirement or they can be substituted by their qualified children if any or share their salary with qualified candidates.
The Central Education policy on Night Schools or School-less teachers should be completely stopped. The entire grant in aid schools without qualified teachers should be directed to recruit fresh qualified teachers.
Minimum qualification for teaching in Primary and above should not be below BA/BSc. Degree and must be interviewed by qualified board of members.
Minimum Qualification for teaching in Colleges or University level should not be below M.Phil. Degrees in the concerned subjects. The University grants Commission rules for Lecturer eligibility need not be considered very important because it is the policy of the mainland people to systematically deprived the locals people from teaching Job at the higher level. The state can formulate its own rules in this regard.
Syllabus and curriculum for high/higher secondary schools can be taken from Central Schools with some emphasis on Manipur history, geography and society. Polytechnic institutions should be given priority either through NGOs or Government Agencies.
DEVELOPMENT
The trans-border- trade with Myanmar should be promoted through political means with the central government. No custom tax should be levied for household goods, electronics and fabrics/cloths coming from Myanmar.
An autonomous Social and tribal welfare department should be set up in all the district headquarters where Post Matric Scholarship, or any scheme/project costing below rupees 50,000 can be released at the district head quarter level itself. This will help people living in remote areas to solve minor problems like submission of scholarship forms and withdrawing the amount, Housing schemes, old age pensions etc.
Community development should be encouraged and public participation in any developmental work should be considered important. E.g. Construction of waiting sheds, Toilets, public- well, community hall, etc. The Local Self body/Municipalities must involve the public in keeping the town and cities clean.
To control the menace of educated unemployment, the government should introduce subsidized soft loans to talented youths for carrying out any trade especially cottage industries. This can be easily done with the help of the nationalized banks and the reserved bank of India as they have been doing in the mainland states with impressive result.
Landless farmers should be given tractors through subsidized loan as it has been done in the state of Punjab, Mizoram, etc. with minimal charges for seeds. All possible effort should be made for double cropping.
The government must set up a special Research Institution for developing traditional medicines should be under the various central schemes for promotion of traditional medicines with the help of the central government.
A Cooperative Marketing Development Agency should be set up to ensure that all agricultural products are marketed properly. Products like Ginger, Mustard seed, sesame, maize, etc. should be purchased by the Agency at reasonable price and marketed to other states.
The Government should review the Khuga Dam Project in consultation with the central government and also book all the erring officials responsible for the delay in the project.
OTHER DEPARTMENTS
Inter state buses plying between Guwahati and Manipur (so called tourist buses) should be allowed only under strict rules so that they don't dump the passengers at their own convenience before reaching the destination. All buses should be given clearance by the police before leaving Manipur soil and should be punished for any failure to comply with the rules or on the complaints of desperate passengers.
The Department of Post & Telegraph and Communication in the state should be instructed to deliver the best services. All letters and Money Orders should be delivered without any delay. Every district headquarter must have a Sub-Speed Post branch for 24 hrs. Post box should be made available to the public in all the localities or leikais and should be cleared at least twice a day.
Telephone connection should be made on demand and upgrade all the telephone exchanges with the latest equipments, which are also in use in the mainlands. All villages in the state should be provided with at least one communication system or either radio or through police wireless.
Medical Facilities should be given utmost importance in the state. All District Hospitals, Primary Health Centers and Sub-centers must have qualified staffs for 24 hrs and life saving drugs should be made available on demand specially, to the lower income groups. The district medical officer should be held responsible for maintaining the hospital and submit report every month to the Directorate of Health Services. Any irregularity in the service or negligence of medical staffs should be reported to the Special Grievance Cell of the Hon'ble chief Minister in a registered letter.
Our premier Medical Institution (RIMS) should be fitted with the latest medical equipment and staffs so that the North East people need not travel to Delhi, Vellore or other places for medical treatment. The government must give effort to have some of the best doctors in India at RIMS Hospital and if any specialized doctor refused posting in Manipur, the Ministry of Health, Government of India, should be asked to explain the reason.
The Water supply system in the entire Manipur state is pathetic and requires serious attention. The government must consult experts on water harvesting.
Electricity supply in the state is also very poor especially outside Imphal areas. The government needs to review the Loktak Hydro electric project with the centre, so that it can be improved. Unless there is improvement in the power supply no irrigation, no industry can take place.
Any one involved in extortion, committing serious crimes should be booked under the law of the land.
These suggestions, if implemented and enforce in good faith, will definitely integrate Kangleipak and every body will live without fear and held their head high.
Issued in the interest of the people of Manipur
------------------------------------------
The Author is the President of All India Tribal Student Union, cerrently residing in New Delhi. He is also the founding President of the Zomi Sangnaupang Pawlpi, Delhi Branch. (The Zou Students' Association)
