The once or twice daytime queue in a week or two for a single LPG cylinder on a hot sunny day in Dimapur is a usual scene, and doesn’t seems to disrupt the daily lifestyles of Dimapurians. For everyone it is “survival of the fittest”, if one can endure the sun burn and sweat from morning till the distributors gets exhausted, to get one’s deserved share. But for unlucky some, another day has to be continued with the same ordeal if luck favours and that depends on the agency’s decision. This practice being usual, it is not of much concern for the society or government except for those individuals who goes through this ordeal. It doesn’t seems to be an issue as long as the traffic is not disrupted or differences arises among the queued over first come first queue. For some who feels this as an issue talks to fellow queue where the issue topic ends as soon as the distribution gets started.
On 27th Oct’10, the night sky seems clear, and the residents of Nagarjan United Colony and Kuda Village started queuing their gas cylinder at Nagarjan Gas Agency by 6:30 pm. One may know where the news for distribution started, but for many it is passing manner news among the neighbours and for few it is the sound of empty gas cylinder being carried on three wheelers. The queuing continues and at 10:30 pm it was reaching 280 empty gas cylinders. It was uncertain for those late comers, where the news reaches late, and has to carry the empty cylinder on shoulder from the furthest of neighbour, with no three wheelers late night, to queued beyond 306 cylinders that is the capacity of single carrier delivery. It was a unique sight for passersby or visitors where the scene of every cylinder owner carries mat and mosquito net to rest guard the cylinder for the night.
The pass over might have been pleasant until 3:30 am next morning when heavy shower visited till 6:00 am. How pleasant would have been the night if someone from the queue shares us the longest queue overnight.
This daily suffering of the common citizens is accepted as part of life. This is a misery untold, cries unheard and issues unattended. But is this really a part of life to live with? Where is the administration? Where is the government? Where is the NGOs? Is everyone, apart from the commoners, shares this part to live with it? I believe it is a big ‘NO’. There is always a back door in our society. A back door for black marketers, politicians, big shots neighbours, land owners etc..
This is not an issue raised in particular to this longest queue over night or recipients of back doors. This is an issue of our society and it is the common citizen’s prayers to do away with this injustice. The rich can pay the double of price, the powerful citizens can booked a slip to get their share and the commoners have to wait in the queue. But why wait in the queue when it is plenty available in the black market? The only reason that the commoners cannot pay is the black market price and it is best known where the black marketers gets their share.
It is time the administration should check in, it is time the government agencies’ to take note, it is time the NGOs to intervene and it is time the common citizens to raise their voices against injustice.
Martin Zulu
Dimapur Citizen
