Sir,
The most glaring indicator that governance has failed today in Manipur is the long lines of vehicles leading to the oil pumps. The highway blockades have ended but people still continue to suffer from blockade-like shortage of essentials. Bus/auto fares are still 1.5 to 2 times the pre-blockade rates; cooking gas/petrol/diesel  prices are 2 to 2.5 times the normal rates. The economy is slowing down because people are cutting down travels/commuting, postponing consumption. Long time effects on health, economy etc may be catastrophic, pulling down the state economy ages behind the economy of the neighbouring states.

Why is it that NGOs/CBOs/CSOs or political parties are not raising voices or why is no government authority taking steps to bring back the economy to normal times. A few individuals are crying in wilderness whereas the government and the non-government organised bodies should be working on war footing to address the issue.

Amar Yumnam in his article in Imphal Free Press dated 29th June 2010 under the heading ‘Post Blockade: Governance Failures Once Again’ identified one most probable cause of such a failure in the network of government and the powerful non-government actors who together terrorize and loot the public. The biggest obstacle is, according to him, their unwillingness to do the right thing. He sees a solution in coming up of a socially productive network of public and private in place of the existing destructive one. In his opinion internal rot is what will lead to dis-integration of Manipur; not external threats. This is also the opinion of hundreds of social activists as expressed during meetings/workshops/seminars/conferences/ internet groups.

Now let us see who are most likely to take up this issue ?  The prominent NGOs/CBOs/CSOs like AMUCO/UCM/HERRICOUN  or MSF/AMSU/DESAM or Meira Paibis may not able to take up this issue as they are bound in their set-programs and their fixed perspectives. The fighters of self-determination may not be interested in effective governance as this may threaten their very existence. The foreign funded or government funded NGOs will dread transparency and accountability except organising some workshops/seminars as transparency and accountability will lead to the exposure of the unholy wealth of their chief functionaries. So who is left to take the bull by the horn? Who will bring good governance to the state? Without doubt it is good governance which will make the state an envy of neighbours; and  a home for tribes and communities to live in integration inside the state.

I believe it is concerned individuals like Amar Yumnam who are best qualified to do the great job. We have a dearth of unpaid activists for bringing the much needed change. So such individuals should go beyond their present professions  and enter the arena of activism. There are persons who says that Manipur has reached the bottom; and now it can only go up. But I think it will remain at the bottom unless somebody lifts it up.

Here are some points for thought:
FUEL SHORTAGE
It is time to stop rationing. Let any pump sale as and when the oil is available. This will help create a situation of normalcy and will help to quickly restore the economy to pre-blockade days.

NH-53
Workers comprising of contractors, government employees and volunteers from the general public may start working in batches along the highway to make everyone realise the work on the linkroad. (I suggest people stop using the word lifeline for these roads. Nobody is dying because of not using these roads. Words like lifeline only exasperate a panicky feeling.)

NH-39
The part of this road linking Imphal and Myanmar should be made a free-road all the year round. We should aim to multiply the trade with Myanmar, South-East Asia and China. This is shortest and most convenient link-road for Manipur to outside world.

Corruption
Those who bribe and those who take bribes should be boycotted and politically/socially sanctioned. Recruitment of government jobs should be done on the spot and in public as is being done for MBBS seats. CBOs/NGOs/CSOs , revolutionary parties and political parties should be asked to periodically declare their financial statements in the public.

Election
Concerned individuals should participate in making election campaigns  independent  of big contributions from candidates or some rich individuals by mobilising massive small individual contributions. Further public debates among candidates can be made mandatory which will help the public to discern the more capable ones from the lesser ones .

Yours faithfully,
Abdulhalim Phoondreimayum, Imphal.