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Interactions, potent Media and sidelining public sector
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Meren Longkumer on September 06, 2008 09:35:00
 
This is a call for more openness and interaction between the public and the
public figures like the ministers, MLAs and those who hold significant
positions. This is a call for a change in our political culture and etiquette. 
We are blind to how governments functions and does not even care to know. It is
time we demand more transparency in the way public offices are being run. This
crying need yet sidelined and absent culture of protest and scrutiny could be
one the disease why the development machine just languish that leave us doomed
to a society of silent sufferers.
It starts with elections. The voting public should know what sort of person
they are electing but sadly most of them barely know the candidate, his vision,
his agendas and this is a very shameful exercise. Debates during elections are a
must with the public getting to know the candidates better. Yearly updates on
the work done by elected legislature needs to be scrutinized. This culture of
taking money and bribes should be made to look distasteful and here the media
comes in.
It is true that in many elections, the voter barely knows the candidate. He has
to vote because he is compelled to—either by his village dictats or by
following his faction choice. One starkly clear trend that you will notice about
our state is the absence of public demonstration or protests, one that you will
find abundantly in our neighbouring state of Manipur. There are even less public
meetings here. Here the crowd is completely silent as if they will blush, burn
and die, they know no slogans also. There are both positive aspects and negative
drawbacks in crowd power. They instill power in some good loud speakers but they
can also bring the tide to bring a government down in like the case of Thailand
and Philippines. True, those commotions of a crowded street are not yet there in
our state but at least we can do one thing by being a tough customer for a
candidate.
What I am asking here is the need of incisive public vigilance on what is going
on in the developmental front. There seems to be no usage of RTI (Right to
Information). Even the opposition people seem to be drowned in petty politics
instead of doing checks and balances.
Everyone is answerable and accountable and here the media comes in. The media
should more aggressively project and lay open how allocated money are being
streamlined or sidelined. Time to time, they should remind the elected people
and key department players that their position does not qualify to
misappropriate. This case happens to many who tend to be drowned in their
powerful position and portfolio and start assuming that they can do anything and
go away with it. No, they cannot go away with it. They must be reminded that
they are just facilitators and government servants for proper governance with
public service and sacrifice as their rallying point. If this culture is
imbibed, elections will not be a big arena or landmark. If development comes at
the cost of sacrifice then some exemplary deeds needs to be exhibited.
Last few years and even today, law and order excuse has been one of the reasons
with extortions as the keyword cited by officials in our non-development. In
this, I say enough is enough. Enough tax is being collected to take care of all
factions every year.
Legislatures are there to facilitate change and development. If they can’t do
anything to stop this menace of corruption, it is worthless that they were
elected. They should resign if they don’t bring in more avenues for growth and
let some brave creative legislator take over. The media should persists this
process very proactively.
Looking deeper in our economy:
Our state did not have any big names or business brands and they don’t have,
even now. This is a glaring fact. Those rich ones had big granaries in their
respective villages. Some became rich real estate businessmen and some rich
politicians. One fact is clear (I hate mentioning this): people have houses,
cars, plots and other assets because of government money only.  Though some has
earned with true service, for many, their assets are disproportionate to their
income and position. And because of this creeping corruption usage of black
money, people eye and buy government jobs.
In a society where people are not ashamed (and even talk openly)of bribery and
vote buying, and lean completely on government money, this cycle of lifestyle
will erode our capabilities and true potentials. This cycle of strikingly
sanitized ways of institutionalised corruption as a common phenomenon needs to
changed by sane social thinking and introspection by all communities if we are
to catch up with the world. It is time that our leaders and legislatures run an
exhaustive campaign to promote entrepreneurship and industrialism. Nagalim is a
big big platform with a huge landmass. With his confidence of size in mind we
should tab ourselves.
No naga needs to be proud because he is rich now. I have not seen any naga
striking a gold mine to become rich. Most of us does not merit any acclaim
because it was primarily the government money that was used to build on the
assets. It is time that those people with capital explore our natural resources
and build on it instead of depending on government subsidy and waiting for other
outside private companies to take over.
Wake up and take ownership. Take risk for a better tomorrow. Invest to make
land rich. We have hundreds of graduates, engineers, doctors, scientists,
musicians.  Give them space here to work.  They will do us proud. Now, 99 per
cent of our stomachs are fed by government money. If we only have the belief in
ourselves, government can made be only left with only the social welfare and
security department with just one per cent of the working salaried force
existing now. Corruption has crept in within China’s strict communist regime.
We have to think from outside the box. Let those who work genuinely be rewarded
and let social security be the primary objects of the government.  Big rumbling
voice like this essay should not die down. If the media and the individuals can
do some of these initiatives, it will be one of the greatest achievements of our
state. It is time we promote IPO (initial public offering).
Scrutiny
Things cannot be changed overnight. There should be yearly public review on how
the governments with its different ministries run. If there are no concrete
signs of work done, the heads should take responsibility and bear the
consequences. Real estate is the only major investment a man thinks of whether
with real money or black money he acquired. I advise the moneyed should
diversify their investment in varied entrepreneurship and generate employment
and profits for his company which will inadvertently help the state.
Eye on economic freedom
We should open our eyes to the future. We need to have a vision for our future
generation earnestly. Many people are lured by election money and they get
drowned with some fast money which does not help in the long run. Think about
the ragged roads you walk over every day, think about the unfinished bridge,
unfinished flyover, the endless needs –things could have been better if you
don’t let politicians scramble for money with elections in mind.
You may have earned a lot: build many houses, bought plots for your sons and
daughters, gave them the best education overseas, and gave them everything. But
despite the luxury one question you should ask yourself if you are making your
motherland a more convenient and peaceful place to live.
Have you invested some for agriculture or have you tried a hand in horticulture
and floriculture business or a hand in furniture. How about building a tourist
resort somewhere in coalition with friends. What about stone and furniture
export, and what about a corporation for a hydro project. And what about
becoming an oil baron. Avenues are many. Nothing can wait in development. Take
entrepreneurship. Those who think natural resources can wait are lost in
abstract fear and obsession. Our land is ours and no power can usurp this
opportunity. It is time the government encourage this enterprise and legislate
laws favouring speedy development and prosperity. With population explosion, it
should be made as an advantage that benefits everyone in the state. Let us
strive to encourage more economists, reformers, intellectuals and visionaries to
chart and steer us further toward financial independence. Let us espouse a new
way of living.
Kuknalim