Khuraijam Rajkumar - fast onto death in support of a separate Jiribam district

Khuraijam Rajkumar Singh seen here at the Jiribam CHC, has been on a fast onto death in support of the demands for a separate Jiribam district. He has been taken to the Silchar airport by a team of the Jiribam police and will be further flown to Imphal.

The major cause of child trafficking in Manipur is non-functional of government schools. Until and unless the government schools are functional the crime of child trafficking cannot be eased.

In cases of child trafficking in Manipur, most of the victims were from the hill districts. There is a reason why the people from hill districts have suffered mostly from trafficking. The major cause or factor for the crime is non-functional of government schools. In the hills, as we all know that substitute teachers are running schools. The actual teachers share a part of their salary with the substitute teachers; subsequently the school is running under the supervision of those substitutes. On the other hand, some schools remain totally defunct even though there are many teachers. Let me share a vivid example of the situation in a village called Koso in Phungyar sub division of Ukhrul District which I have visited on January 30, 2010. There were 85 families in the village. There is only one LP school which is run by ADC. The school has a big building—inside the building there was a single desk, on the ground full of dust, stocked some bunches of thatch at a corner. No teacher was coming to impart education to the children of the village even though there were three teachers assigned for the school. This is why the children of the village have to flee from the village for education.

The parents prefer good education or simply education for their children. The only alternative is to send their wards to private schools at a nearby town or somewhere else.

The people in the remote hill areas are normally poor. They live on traditional economic systems, such as Zhum cultivation or traditional agriculture. The income earned from such ways does not suffice for the extra expenses for their children to send at a private school at a preferred town. Meanwhile the schools at their villages are partially or fully non-functional. What shall be done by the parents for their children to get education?

Poverty is one of the reasons why children get pushed into trafficking. Poverty leads to deprivation of basic needs and hardship living conditions leading them to look for better options elsewhere. The greater the intensity of impoverishment, the higher is the risk of falling prey to trafficking.

Poverty of the parents turned their lives from bad to worse. By taking these opportunities, the traffickers come up to the parents and lured them that their wards would be provided free education in the outside of the state. Instantly the parents gave consent to the traffickers.

The ignorance of the parents about child trafficking is another push factor. The parents have trust the traffickers so that their wards were handed over to them.

In combating child trafficking, to erase these push factors is equally important with other preventive measures.

AS so far appeals and negotiating efforts have not yielded or resulted in any positive response to lessen the untold suffering of our state populace particularly poor and student groups, now we need to abandon sporadic actions however good those actions in the past (regardless of interests served in doing so). Why not all the above cited bodies and other willing groups join hand under an apex body of any suitable name like State level Vigilance Organ on Governance to undo present impasse. It is a possible Call.

“ We are what we have made and our future is made by us now”( Mahavira).

Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the things out” (John Wooden)

The fact as known to all:
National Highways are to be protected by GOI (Govt. of India) and state Govt. with its mechanisms are to manage and protect the same taking along the cooperation of its Citizens otherwise there is no Governance and authority of authorities.

When above statement is taken and applied to present phenomena of dual blockades of last many 48 days, certainly our present Govt. both at Centre and State had miserably failed to protect people and to provide essential commodities at a normal reasonable rate to entire populace of the state for reasons best known to them. Let us accept the Fact and Reality.

As known to many, after a few days of blockade, various organisations and individuals started appealing to lift the blockade and continue their rightful demand with other means and from the medical perspective requesting to both committee to atleast relax on life saving drugs. All appeals acknowledged the legitimacy of District Demand and Protest for the same (40 year old demand) and Govt. apathy and inaction in it.

As for the details of damages incurred or done during blockade in the last 48 days, it may not call for a repeat description here as all news readers and listeners and a greater number of population in Manipur have fair knowledge and varying sufferings inflicted on them in continuing all the more. However, a mention may be enlivening here that the impact so far in the process of blockade have created havoc on the lives of poorer populace and also rendered unhappiness and uneasiness to all general besides lost of crores of rupees and creative manpower and man-days. On the other side, our State Govt. affords are ineffective to help affected people and in dealing the Issue. It may be deducted that neither the leaders do strategic calculation to reach a solution ahead of blockade nor they have now to immediately evade or conclude the Issues. It looks like a sort of indifferent and insensitive to public cry and suffering as the  Govt. leaders are busy on continuing in Inauguration ceremonies, visiting construction sites and public meetings in the light of coming election.

‘ What do we live for, if not to make life less difficult for each other”. ( George Elliot)

Here, a space for appreciation is due for people and groups who spent time and went into action of negotiation and appealing to ease out the situation with genuine interest and concern and not forgetting excellent role of media in it.

The point for this tiny write up is to call for an ACTION of all populace of the state to come out together and say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH and give a direct dateline Ultimatum to all MLAs, MPs , Governor of the state and to GOI-Centre  and to both Committees to END the Blockade and Issue in it. For doing so all leaders of civil, religious and student body may convene a joint meeting to chart out most fitting strategic action ( non-violence) to undo present impasse. The joint action  of such joint body not done so far to help people and particularly poor and student community live and lead a life with quality and dignity (or should we continue a debase living with silent suffering or as  brave ones avoiding calling ourselves cowards).

 “The end will never be able to justify wrong means”
 “ Justice delayed is injustice”
 “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are”.     Theodore Roosevelt.

Now coming to the points of discussion, out of 58,685 candidates appeared, only 5322 were declared to have passed and qualified. Education Directorate(S) had collected Rs.21,47,800/- as application/ Examinations fee from the aspiring candidates of Primary Teachers. In the original relevant advertisement there were about 1800 vacant positions of Primary Teachers for recruitment.

The exact marks secured individually by 5322 successful candidates as per declared written test result, in order of merit, should have been published black and white on white paper to ensure maintain crystal-clear transparency in its subsequent process for appointment. In the said Examination conducted by the Board of Secondary Education under the guidance/ supervision of the Directorate of Education (S), Govt. of Manipur on 22nd December 2006 openly, and secretly on 10th and 28th January 2007, for which the result was declared on 16th April, 2007. Thereafter, viva-voce was conducted from 6th February, 2009 upto the last week of October 2009, spreading over 9 months taken altogether. Hence the gap from the declaration of written test Exam. (i.e. 16th April, 2007) and viva-voce period (i.e. starting from 6th April 2009 upto the last week of Oct. 2009) after a gap of about 3 years.

Everybody gets shocked and surprised to know when the so called recommended list of 1413 (including waiting list) candidate’s names were published in Huiyen Lanpao Daily (both in English and Manipuri version) for 7 days spreading from 24lh to 30th June, 2010 under the signature and issuance of an order of Shri. M. Harekrishna, the then Director of Education (S) dated, the 22nd April, 2010 after a lapse of about 4 years, counting from the date of advertisement and initial necessary processes etc.

Now again the Education Department, Govt. of Manipur has declared to have qualified and recommended 1566 candidates (excluding Hindi Teachers posts) for appointment as Primary Teachers, the break-up of which is as follows:-

General—712; ST—441; SC—28; OBC (Meitei) —185; OBC (Pangal) —57; the total of which is 1423 and in the waiting list; General—72; ST—44; SC—3; OBC (Meitei) —19; OBC (Pangal) —1; Physically challenged—4, the total of which is 143. This grand total number of selected candidates comes to 1566 (1423+143=1566). Again, out of 712 of the so-called General category, there are 85 candidates (i.e.ST— 44; Pangal—26; and SC—15) being included and benefitted. Hence, 712—85 means 627 candidates only in the General category counting with OBC. The candidates in the general category suffer and loses doubly. Whereas ST (441 + 44)= 485 which is 61% without counting 44 (ST) candidates simultaneously included in the General category, and thus enjoying double benefits/ chances /privileges through miscalculation by some irresponsible bureaucrats. ST reserved quota exceeds 61% (in violation / contravention of all India Reservation norms of 33% only) in both waiting list and general category which needs immediate rectification with corrective ways and means. This is fantastic and unjudicious. It is not P.C. Sarkar’s magic circus. Facts and justice cannot and should not be twisted and manipulated at any cost. Such cases should be dealt with an iron-hand. The Hon’ble Chief Minister should not succumb to the dictates of IAS/ MCS officers who are paid employees subordinate to him.

The High powered committee constituted by the State Govt. to look into the controversy surrounding the DPC conducted in connection with selection of Primary Teachers for appointment under School Education Department has found out that de-categorisation norms of the reservation have not been respected at the time of preparing the merit list. And a serious lapse has been detected in the DPC conducted for recruitment of Primary Teachers under School Education Department as the relevant answer scripts of the candidates were found destroyed / damaged before announcement of the final result. From the recording of the statement of the then DPC members, the High powered committee has pointed to the possibility of manipulation in preparing the merit list of the DPC.

After the submission of report of the High powered committee to the Govt. the State Cabinet, after several rounds of discussion on the issue, had been recommended to seek the comments of the Law Department. Subsequently, the State Govt. also entrusted a Review committee headed by the School Education Director as the chairman to look into the matter. Amid all these detection of various irregularities in the conduct of the DPC, the State Govt. took a decision to the effect of appointing all the candidates selected in the DPC on contract basis for 11 months. With the approval of the State Cabinet, decision ot the State Govt. has been enforced but here toe, the provisions of the compulsory Notification Act of the Employment Exchange of the Central Govt.; has been violated. In accordance to this Act, the duration of the contract appointment should be just 89 days.

We may recall the mass mark-tampering case of the MCS/ MPS written test Examination conducted by the esteemed MPSC some 20 years before in which DAS COMMISSION has scrapped and invalidated the recommended candidates, including sons of some VIP’s and high bureaucrats of Manipur, after having detected the manipulated mark-tampering with prima-facie evidences in the relevant answer scripts and mark Tabulation sheets etc,

The Scheduled Tribe candidates are enjoying double benefits and double privileges within the same state of Manipur twice. What is the justification for this de-categorisation reserved quota, when candidates who belong to general criteria (valley people) are not allowed/ appointed in the case of all appointments made for the 5 Hi!! Districts of Manipur ? The privileges of the General category candidates are deprived and confiscated, perhaps through misinterpretation and miscalculation committed by some bureaucrats /VVIP’s who are in the seat of power. This needs to be rectified/ streamlined to meet the ends of justice, transparency and fair-play in all appointments and subsequent promotions for all departments of Manipur. This long standing controversial practice should be monitored and stopped forthwith, or else, the fate of the future generations and appointment/job opportunities of the General category (valley people) will be nibbed in the bud.

In view of the prevailing grave conflict and vulnerable situation as stated above, a CB! probe or enquiry by a Judicial Commission with the Chief Vigilance

Officer of India is called for, to meet the ends of justice and transparency in recruitment of Primary Teachers, in the public interest.

The merit list of the candidates for written test/ viva-voce etc. for all competitive Examinations conducted by the esteemed UPS>C and the other State Service Commissions are declared and published within a time bound / stipulated time/ period of six months. In such all India competitive Examination, in which lakhs of candidates appear every year.

Why in Manipur, the Education Directorate has taken 5 years in the declaration of selected candidates for appointment of Primary Teachers in a most unjustified and unjudicious manner. This vividly proves and implies that the appointing authorities have taken 5 years in manipulating and tampering the marks by destroying the answer scripts of candidates etc. It is a reality beyond rhetoric and dubious knowledge of ground reality with evil intention, which amounts to a serious crime and sin.
Author is Former President, MPCC (I) & Ex-Finance Minister, Manipur.

The moot point is, while the government must do what it is doing now by making the security cover foolproof, it must also think of evolving longer term strategies to tackle this growing menace of xenophobic hate crimes. While it is a few miscreants who are responsible for these crimes, what is to be remembered is the crimes are the extreme manifestation of a general atmosphere of concern amongst the a good section of the population of the state that immigrants would come to outnumber the indigenous populations sooner than later. It may be recalled that so many powerful and well known civil organisations, have expressed this anxiety in no uncertain terms and indeed there is a parallel increase in the decibel in the demands for the re-introduction of the inner line permit system which would restrict immigration as well as prevent transfer of landed property to immigrants. A longer term solution to the problem would have to address this concern and seek to resolve or moderate it. If such an approach is not taken, the government would be left with no other option than to resort to the same strategy of bolting the stable after the horses have fled. This would be unforgivable for the matter involves lives and any loss of life is nothing to be callous about.

But what manifests as a concern of possible demographic imbalances may have a strong unarticulated component of competition for jobs. As had been written and thrashed so many times even on these same columns, immigrant labour always manages to drag down wages earning the ire of the local labour market. The fact that those the miscreants targeted were impoverished immigrant labourers may in fact be an indicator of this contention. Some years ago, the reason for the attacks in Assam on “Hindi speakers” was openly stated to be an outcome of competition for railway jobs of grade three and two. In Maharashtra the underlying causes for the attacks on non-Maharashtrians were also for the same reason. We are pointing out these possible factors so that the government does not miss them out in evolving its own long term strategy of tackling this ugly and shameful problem. Just to underscore the point, the government cannot afford to let its guards down in the immediate context for there are killers out there bent on creating xenophobic mayhem. They must be kept at bay. However the government should also think of some regulatory mechanism to check the inflow of immigrants. It must be acknowledged that beneath the loathsome xenophobia are some genuine concerns which must be taken care of. As the saying goes, good fences make good neighbours. At this point perhaps introducing such a regulatory mechanism, even if a mild one, is this good fence. It is needless to remind the government that such regulatory mechanisms exist in many other Northeast states.

In the second ground, Jonah and Manosh scored the two goals for SWSC.

The goals for Churachandpur team were scored by Sulan (one goal) and Mangminthang (two goals) while Keamrun scored the lone goal for Bishnupur.

Meanwhile, Manipur defeated Kerala by 3-2 in U-17 National School Games Football Tournament held at Srinagar today.

Manipur and Kerala were tied in 2-2 draw till the completion of normal time. However, Manipur scored a goal in the extra-time which led to the victory. Rojen scored all important goals for the state.

The final match will be played between Manipur and Orissa tomorrow.

According to a release of the party, the incident is questionable as the incident occurred due to lapse on the side of the security forces in broad daylight. It has further condemned the actions of the blockade supporters in burning down the trucks which were carrying life saving drugs as inhuman.

It has also added that the blockade supporters had knowingly burned down the two trucks as the windshields of th trucks bear the banners ‘Life saving drugs’.

According to a release, the blast seriously injured a young innocent student K.D Paolei s/o Daihe of Maiba village, Senapati district who was in the capital for TET examination.

The NPO has appealed before the state government to seriously investigate into the matter and extend all possible assistance to those injured innocent person on humanitarian ground. Such act of barbarism and terrorizing the people by targeting innocent lives and student cannot continue to disturb peaceful environment but should be dealt effectively.

While extending the solidarity to those family members of those injured and died in the blast, the NPO demand the State Government to book the culprit at the earliest.