On an absolute scale, there can be no doubt whatsoever Manipur has developed. A former Governor of the state 15 years ago, who had recently visited the state said in private he is certain this is so. A lot many others, including people from the state who had been away for any significant length of time too concur with this observation. But even if this is so, there are certain questions that still beg answers before any verdict on governance in the state can be legitimately pronounced. One of these is very obvious. On a relative scale, can the thumbs up the former Governor and other non-resident citizens are willing to extend to the state administration still be an accurate assessment? That is to say, while it is true Manipur probably has grown in terms of new infrastructures that have come up in the last decade or so, could they have grown more given the quantum jump in the availability of development funds proportionate to the overall growth in the Indian economy? Again, while in terms of quantity things may have improved, can the same be said of the quality as well?
So many articles have been written on this by all hues of writers in the local dailies as to how even the newly renovated roads in Manipur fall vastly short in quality compared to roads even in neighbouring states of Nagaland and Assam. Even without going to the remote hill districts to make this comparison, take the best made roads in Imphal, say for instance the Airport Road stretch from Imphal or the one that runs around the Kangla Fort touching the Raj Bhavan, right in the heart of the capital city, or the short stretch that cuts through the administrative hub of the civil secretariat and the chief minister’s residential bungalow cum office complex. Why are even these roads substandard and uneven on the surface? They had been broadened and bitumen reinforced but the road surface still tells a different story. This difference would be missed as long as a comparison is not available, but somebody who travels out of the state and sees even roads in Assam and Meghalaya would suddenly realise how much has not been done. The old frustrating question remains, why is this being allowed to continue? Why are all those responsible for this so disrespectful about the work they do? Why have they ceased to take pride in the quality of workmanship they produce? If it is a question of scarce means, it would have been understandable, but it is everybody’s knowledge this is not at all the case. The shortfall in the quality on the other hand is on account of money meant for these projects not being spent fully on the projects. In a state bereft of industries worth the name, there are many as rich as any successful entrepreneur anywhere can be. The marble mansions spring up amidst the growing ghetto landscape of Imphal and other major townships bear testimony to this organized thievery. Yet the state remains remorseless.
There are of course many public buildings, grand by Manipur standard, such as the Assembly complex Mantri Pukhri, the Convention Centre at Palace Gate, the Manipur Film Development Centre also at Palace Gate etc, which now majestically adorn the Imphal cityscape. There are also plans for a 5-Star Hotel, airport expansion, and many more. On one hand, all of these are being built with funds from the Union government hence in the literal sense they are unearned, so there is nothing to shout from rooftops and claim these as achievements. On another hand, in this postmodern and democratic age, these grand structures represent the re-emergence of the State as a disproportionately imposing institution once again, soaring and intimidating the ordinary citizens into virtual insignificance. These buildings obviously would be out of bounds of the ordinary public, zealously guarded by the state’s armed constabularies as they would be, clearly marking the dividing line between the State and the people. In this sense, the only architecturally democratic structures which have also been allowed in this city modernisation process are the new Keithels. While all these projects deserve appreciations, they should have been balanced off by a reciprocal push to develop other infrastructures which are truly for the public, such as parks, better water supply, roads, better public transport system, better traffic regulatory mechanisms, better government schools etc. This imbalance having not been addressed, the million rupees question that remains answered even if outside observers see visible development in the state is, whose development is it?