An executive engineer of IFCD, who refused to oblige with the directive of the higher up to deduct 10 percent of the bill amount released for the work done under the Brahmaputra project across the state was transferred. But the EE was a clean man. He never demands money from the contractors. Every contractor, who was closely associated with him knows that. He is different from other EEs of other engineering departments. The EEs of other departments openly demand bribe money. The palatial buildings they have constructed testify the claim made by all that they are corrupt. Pay, perk and perquisites only cannot ensure the growth of such buildings. After all how can the EE in question meet the demand of the higher up when the contractors have said they would rather languish without drawing the bill amount than meeting the demand of 10 percent made by the higher up. The problem with our higher up is that they consider money as if it can be plucked from the branches of trees. A former Minister once said one should not feel envy of possession of wealth by political leaders. Because the money will come out flowing at the time of election. He quipped he has seen even the one time cabinet Minister leading a life of pauper after they have retired from electoral politics. Manipur style of election is very costly, he added. Those having more money are considered advantageous in the Manipur style of election. Bureaucrats, top police officers, who have amassed wealth during their service career, tried their luck in electoral politics, unfortunately many of them failed. The reason is not far to seek. They had kept themselves aloof when they were in service and during the short period of time available they could not get closer to the voters. Next time if they try they may turn out to be victorious. Plus their spending spree must also increase. It is a sad phenomenon. During the election time all major issues are brushed aside and voters go for the candidates, who offer higher bribe money. Democratic values have nosedived. Election Commission should change its dos and don’ts code of conduct in the Manipur context. Political parties and candidates should be given enormous freedom in conducting public meetings. For fear of being caught on election related expenditure charge public meetings were not conducted. Voters could not know get the ample opportunity of weighing the merit and demerit of candidate. In the past when there were no hindrance in the conduct of election related meeting even the poor men could try luck in electoral luck. Many of the victorious candidates in the past claimed they scaled the ladder of victory by speaking. They considered their mouth as their weapon. Now the candidate having the best oratory skill stands nowhere near the rich candidate. We will continue to hear the news of higher up demanding 10 percent cut until we reform electoral politics. Sorry, clean and efficient officers have to follow the path abhorred by masses but adored by wrong doers.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/the-product-of-ailing-society/
