There is always light at the end of the tunnel
M. Asnikumar Singh
In the 2002 elections, no single political observers expected a single party forming a govt on its own and this was proved when the results came out. The Congress party emerged as the leading party but had to rely on the support of various regional parties to form the government. What was initially seen by observers as a fragile coalition government, led by a relatively Unkown O Ibobi Singh went on to complete its term and Ibobi led a full three terms Congress regime in the state.
The authoritarian style of leadership during this 15 years regime is well documented. The Non-State Actors, as well as state actors both, became a nuisance to normal day to day lives of the state’s people. The indefinite bandhs, blockades which resulted in price inflation of essential goods in the state for months tested the patience of its people to the ultimate limit. The infamous killing of an unarmed youth and a pregnant woman in broad daylight by the state’s law enforcement authorities plunged the state into chaos, with the entire educational apparatus shutting down due to the resulting statewide protests. The hill valley gap intensified as a consequence of the classic divide and rule tactics of the state’s leadership hierarchy, this itself was a betrayal; an insult to the social ethos on which the land was founded upon.
The controversial Manipur People’s Bill was passed in the state’s assembly without proper consensus which resulted in the deaths of 10 individuals from Churchandpur District. There always was the aura of fear among the state’s citizens at the sight of uniformed personnel. The State Human Rights Commission was in a virtually defunct state. The lack of accessibility to the leadership, nepotism running in high places is well known. There was a virtual suppression of democratic rights and people feared going out at night due to fear of getting picked up by the police or insurgents.
15th March 2017: the commencement of a new chapter in Manipur
The newly elected BJP led coalition govt comes to power and the first steps it took were: 1)recognising the long ignored titular King of our land, His Highness Leishemba Sanajaoba
2)Ending the long-standing 169 days old Economic Blockade within a week of the new government taking the oath
3)The grieving families of 10 victims of Churchandpur over the Manipur People’s Bill finally performed their funerals after the new government finally made peace with them.
All forms of blockades drastically reduced.
Cabinet Meetings began to take place in the hill districts, the first time in the history of the state. ‘Go To Hills’, ‘Go To Village’, ‘Hill Leaders Day’, ‘Meeyamgi Numit ‘ are widely accepted and have popular appeal.
Bridging hill valley divide:
•Go to hills
•The trust deficit between the government and the citizens began to vanish day by day.
•’Ima Markets’ ( women’s market) have been constructed in Churachandpur, Ukhrul, Chandel, Tamenglong, Senapati, Kangpokpi and Jiribam at an estimated cost of ₹10 crores per market.
Tourism: there has been a 222 percent increase in the international tourists footfalls in the state than it was in 2016. This is a testament to the improved infrastructure and security in the state.
This can be spoken in constituencies which are breeding ground of footballers(ex: Sekmai, keinou): National Sports University will be the first of its kind to promote sports education in the areas of sports science, sports technology, sports management, sports coaching and will function as a national training centre for selected training centres.
Transit accommodation facilities became operational in every sub-divisional and block headquarters for doctors, nurses, other govt employees.
The scheme of ‘Start-Up Manipur’ providing a much-needed boost to the young entrepreneurs of Manipur providing 30 per cent subsidy. Through this, many young entrepreneurs are able to provide employment to many educated/skilled unemployed youth in the state.
The CMHT( Chief Ministergi Hakshel Tengbang) providing up to Rupees 2 lacs free medical expenditure per head per year for economically weak families of the state. Beneficiaries of this healthcare scheme see it as a blessing from God himself.
The fear of going out at night is not prevalent anymore.
The Northeast Development Summit, November 2017, first ever such summit in the Northeast, inaugurated by the Hon’ble President of India in presence of Chief Ministers of all northeastern states, ministers of the Government of India. The summit was attended by 555 delegates from across the globe, more than 100 MNCs, PSUs. The fallout of the NEDS – 45 MOUs signed single-window clearance policy implemented under the state planning department as the nodal agency. The NEDS showcased Manipur’s potential to become an investment hotspot for Southeast Asia and is in line with the ‘Act East Policy’ of the government of India.
Installation of floodlights in the Khuman Lampak main stadium, enabling it to hold night matches- a long awaited dream for the sports loving people of the state.
The State Human Rights Commission has been revived from its previously dire state to an active, vibrant body, working day and night. Huge improvement of the two lifelines of the state, Jiribam-Imphal-Moreh, Imphal-Churchandpur-Aizawl road from its previously deplorable condition to all weather roads within 18 months of the government coming to power. 30th September is now celebrated as ‘Irabot Day’ to commemorate one of the state’s true heroes, Jana Neta Irabot, who we grew up idolising through our history books but never saw him given the recognition he deserved. The appointment of two men of integrity( Lt Gen Himalay and Lt Gen LN Singh) to the post of the chairman of the Manipur Public Service Commission repaired the long lost trust in the integrity of the body amongst the general public and especially MPSC aspirants in the state. The intrastate bus service, helicopter service connecting far flung hill districts with the valley has virtually eliminated the decades-long connectivity problem between hill and valley.
State forest department revenue went up from Rupees 6.26 crores in 2016-17 to Rupees 23.49 crores in 2017-18, a clear sign of increased efficiency and transparency in the functioning of state departments. This is just one such example.
Education:
The ‘School Fagathansi Mission’ which aims at Holistic Improvement by upscaling schools, making them composite, the involvement of MLAs, the district administration in the process. This has led to a 30 per cent increase in enrolment and a general improvement in performance in examinations.
‘Know Your State’ – helicopter ride, the idea of schoolchildren flying in a helicopter to explore the state and developing a true appreciation and understanding about the state in their minds. ‘No School Bag Day’ which aims at making learning a joyful experience.
The ‘No School Bag Day’ has been introduced on all working days for children of class 1 to 8th in all schools of the state.
Health: infrastructure development of a 100 bedded Covid-19 hospital at Mayang Imphal. Estimate cost: ₹73.67 crores. A website named www.tengbang.in the website has been launched to address grievances and financial aid were given to 12,000 stranded Manipuri students outside the state.
Environment: Nambul River Rejuvenation Project, with an aim to conserve the ecosystem of Nambul river and to prevent frequent flood in Imphal Valley.
The goal of a Corruption free state:
The Manipur Lokayukta has been activated with the goal of putting a check and curbing corrupt practices in the govt.
Anti corruption cell has also been set up in the CM’s office to monitor and track cases of corruption, misuse of authority.
DARPAN: digital app for review of Public and Nation launched for transparency in various works undertaken by the government.
Social Security
The CMST (Chief Minister gi Sotharaba Singgi Tengbang) which provides allowance grant to persons with disabilities has so far benefited more than 5000 persons with disabilities. One-stop centres opened in all Districts, providing both emergency and non-emergency range of services like legal aid, psychosocial, medical assistance, police etc for women facing violence.
Unique disability identity card: these cards are online issued now.
Persons with a disability can now apply online for disability certificates and cards. Thus, easing off the burden of going to govt offices to apply for these services.
Women helpline: under the Nirbhaya fund, there is a now a 24 hrs toll free helpline number (118) for both emergency and non emergency responses to women affected by violence.
The govt has also opened 24*7 one stop centres in all the 16 districts. Any woman can approach these centres for availing short term Medico-legal services.
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana: till date 2.21 lacs of farmers successfully enrolled and are getting paid rupees 6000 per annum in 3 equal instalments of rupees 2000 each, at every 4 months interval. The prestigious Krishi Karman Award was conferred as the state achieved the highest productivity Rice and Pulses to the tune of 2570kg per hectare and 960kg per hectare against the national average of 2475kg/ha and 779kg/ha respectively during the year 2017- 18.
The Hill Area Development Fund under the Ministry of Development of Northeastern Region selected remote areas from all over the country for development projects and as part of this Tamenglong district was selected in the first phase and 90 crores drinking water project was implemented in the district. The project is on the verge of completion. This is what all-inclusive development stands for.
A 3000 crores drinking water project for the state, funded by the new development bank is in its tender application stage and will commence soon.
Integrated Water Supply Project– the foundation stone was laid by PM Narendra Modi Ji, on the 23rd July 2020. With an estimated cost of ₹3054 crores, it is the largest single compact project ever sanctioned by the GOI for Manipur. The project is bound to reduce water scarcity problems of the state and will benefit 25 small towns and 1700 villages in our state.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana(PMAY), more than 10,000 houses have been built for the poor in rural and urban areas since 2017.
Railways- soon Manipur will be on the railway map of India. The estimated cost of the project is ₹13,809 crores. With 52 tunnels and 149 bridges, the Jiribam-Imphal railway line is going to be a wonder for tourists. Also, it is an engineering masterpiece. The project also contains the world’s tallest railway bridge at a monumental height of 141 metres.
Waterways: Loktak inland waterways project has been approved with an estimated cost of 25.58 crores for augmentation if machinery and infrastructure for waterways cleaning at Loktak.
Electricity: Since 2017 to 2020, a total of 1.42 lakhs households have been provided with a power connection.
Finally, the year 2019 ended on a joyous and triumphant note for the state when it got exempted from the CAA and was brought under the Inner Line Permit System. The whole of Manipur celebrated the whole night which was akin to a moment of triumph after so many broken promises by all the previous governments. The state leadership’s role in this cannot be underestimated, as it was quite clear that the repeated visits of the CM and his ministerial colleagues to Delhi with the mission of making ILPS in Manipur a reality finally paid off in the end.
As an observant citizen, I can’t help but feel that this is just the beginning of a resurgent Manipur, a land which has always been on the wrong side of inclusive development and growth in the past but has always persisted through adversities. But perhaps for the first time in decades, it has a government which is led by men who truly have the sentiment of love for the motherland, ably supported by leaders in Delhi who will leave no stone unturned in including the Northeast in any development dialogue and this might just be enough to take the state into the promised land. Patience is a virtue and this has been proven rightmost by the people of Manipur with their faith and continued support to the BJP led government in Manipur, without their support the aforementioned achievements of the government would be vague. With a strong conviction that the future is bright, I submit my views.
(Writer is a former General Secretary and Vice President, presently State Spokesperson of BJP Manipur State Unit )
Good Governance Good Achievement
Very true statement. After BJP led government under the leadership of Shri N. Biren Singh did many remarkable and people centric works. Meeyamgi Numit and Ching gi Numit had changed the mindset of common peoples and benifitted directly to the needy and weaker sections of the society.
It’s a great article of Tamo Ashnikumar.