The above NSCN (IM) Azha (order) given coverage by the Manipur and Nagaland newspapers recently (3. 11. 2007) on contract works under the government of Manipur in Naga areas needs its approval is not a surprise. This is the practice by the various underground organizations (UO) in its area of influence to have their pound of flesh, to carry on their struggle and to protect and defend the rights of its people.
But, some unscrupulous ministers, MLAs, bureaucrats and contractors used to sideline such Azhas of the UOs with the passage of time, especially with formation of a new ministry after every election.
As highlighted by the Senapati District Contractors Association (SDCA), the Manipur Rural Development Ministry whose headquarters is located at the state capital Imphal, issues Notice Inviting Tenders (NIT) for the whole districts of Manipur, an open tenders were bulldozed by some valley contractors on the one hand and manipulation of the file process by the department on the other. In both the cases external forces were involved and extraordinary anti people process took place. In this manner, gross irregularities were prevalent. The SDCA could resort to legal means. But, the ground reality was, the non local controversial contractors commenced the works under the Rural Development with the full backing of the department and involvement of extraordinary forces. Consequent upon, the SDCA took the extreme steps to paralyse the NH 39 twice for forty eight hours each on July 7 and 8, 2007 and October 8 and 9, 2007. It has to be mentioned that, the valley contractors have triple and more advantage against the tribal contractors to engage themselves for generating money from the Loktak Project multiple of works and other Imphal city development projects etc etc down to more than a dozen “tiny” working divisions of PWD, PHED, Power, IFCD, Minor Irrigations and other departments with more funds provided to this divisions besides, from unaccountable private firms and NGOs. In the hill districts, contract opportunities are limited to PWD and PHED with only one division for each districts. Even then, luminaries infiltrate into the hill works. Since, such is the state of affairs, the NSCM (IM) diktat is in the right direction till a settlement is reach with the Bharat Sarkar in the near future if not will bring chaos to the NE region. The NSCM (IM), as any underground outfits, political parties, civil bodies struggle, work and sweat for the welfare of the society, region and people for a better place to live in.
However, the government of the Peoples’ Republic of Nagalim of NSCM (IM) ought to regulate its recommendations and approval of contract works and the like matters against the present system of ‘first come first’ basis. As of now, the plain tribal contractors (tribal contractors settled at Imphal or made Imphal its headquarters) unregistered sub-contractors or the coterie of the privilege ones hunts after the Work Programs (WP) through their contacts, channel and connections and before the WPs came out into the print, and got recommendations from the GPRN (IM) and garner all the works in their names and others names by a few contractors.
As a parallel government, the NSCN (IM) is urged, that the list of contractors and works be screened and take up case by case and those “starving for works” and who stood with their principle in thick and thin, are given the opportunity without which the core principle of equal opportunity and justice will not see the light of the day by the tribal contractors and the people.
P. Lakhao, Convenor
Shepoumaramth Rights Watchdog Senapati.
