Nothing is more alarming than the disclosure made by the state’s Chief Minister about its dismal financial position. Such disclosure reminds that the Government will not be in a position to create jobs for the unemployed. Extension of financial assistance to the unemployed youths may be a thing of the past. Roads and bridges will remain in dilapidated form. It is amazing the Government at the centre, which is dragged into series of controversies, is not finding time to pay attention to our problem. Nothing is done to infuse fresh fund to lift Manipur from debt pit. Even the plan money is not released in the form agreed upon. If the state’s fiscal position is in dismal form employees too will not be getting pay and contractors’ bill will also be not cleared. That reminds the gloomy days ahead. In the past the employees of the Government of Manipur had not got pay continuously for seven months. That situation however cannot be used as the yardstick to measure the level of sufferings inflicted upon the people now. In those days the centre was ruled by NDA and Manipur had a non Congress Government. In the recently held state assembly election Manipur saw a record figure of 42 Congress MLAs entering the 60 member house. Plus the centre is ruled by Congress led alliance. Yet the step motherly treatment is meted out to the state. It reminds us of the dark future that awaits the state and its people. Unless we have something of our own we will not be able to run the state administration in future. Our revenue is nil. As of now the state administration is carried out by begging some fund from the centre. A time may come when the centre decides to release fund in consonance with the revenue generated by the state Government. Where is our revenue? Bigger states will be able to survive because they have enormous revenue. Jayalalitha had protested against the manner with which fund is released by the Planning Commission. She had said Planning Commission cannot dictate the term on the utilisation of state’s own fund. Though the centre is providing a favourable treatment to the smaller states like Manipur as of now, such treatment cannot be taken for granted. Should we remain as a burden forever to the nation’s survival? The need of the hour is giving the thrust to creation of revenue. Nobody has inculcated the culture of paying tax. But excess power tariff is unreasonable. The idea of enhancing revenue by increasing power tariff should be stopped. In Delhi Kejriwal has appealed to the consumers not to clear power bill. Poor men have openly said they cannot clear the monthly bill, which works out to Rs 10,000 for using three fans, three air conditioners and some led bulbs. There should be two power lines one for domestic and another for industrial purpose. Manipur needs help from the centre. A state like Manipur which is neighbouring with prosperous south east nations cannot languish without having anything. If Government of India has ceased to be supportive to our survival there is no reason why we should not we focus on other sectors. Look the other way available.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/dismal-financial-position/
