Two issues that should not be left for just discussion, but which should be acted upon without much delay and with utmost concern are unemployment and corruption. Although the two are separate and need separate treatment, yet they are inexorably intertwined, and when they feature together they hint at bad governance. Going by a recent report, unemployment in the State, to be more precise the number of those registered in the different employment exchanges of Manipur till the end of October this year, stands at more than 7 lakhs, the exact statistics being 7,38,619 including 5,23,694 males and 2,14,925 females. This means that a State with a total population of less than 30 lakhs has more than 7 lakhs job seekers. However, the situation is likely to be a lot grimmer. There is a high possibility of many youth not registering themselves in any of the employment exchanges or still many who had not renewed their names in their respective exchange offices. Today, when almost all recruitment process for any government post is shrouded in allegations of corruption and every post comes with a market price, many a deserving candidates must have felt dejected and not even considered applying for the posts due to lack of resources and not registered themselves in the exchange offices. Of these candidates, few will enter the private sector, while many would continue to apply for Central jobs until their age allow or they get a satisfying job. For a State bidding for a Smart City project, the high unemployment number could only be a deterrent, for an exploding unemployment rate would mean that the government has failed to encourage the private sector which in all likelihood would be a crucial factor in the bidding. Surely the government would not continue to blame the bad law and order situation for every ill that ails the State and at the same time hope for a successful bidding for a Smart City. Corruption and unemployment can bring no good to a society, and it is only pertinent for the government to encourage a concerted effort with support from the public to end both. At the same time, solving the corruption and unemployment conundrum could pretty much solve half of, if not all of, the issues confronting the State at present. These two issues lie at the crux of all issues confronting the State today and any successful bid at getting rid of these two would eventually cleanse many of the State’s problems. Leaders could start by acting on their responsibilities with sincerity, just to earn some respect and affection of the people. Their deviation from the promises made before the polls, once the election process is over, has only disappointed the public so much so that the public has become wary of politicians and their promises. At the same time like many of the issues confronting the State, these two are also issues which need public involvement as much as that of the government in fighting them. It is also understandable that it would be notoriously difficult to sort out the impediments of the State unless the people decide to open their eyes and look around instead of being led around by a few. The beauty of democracy is that it places its citizenry on a pedestal and enjoins their participation in the formation of the government and checking its machineries. The public, without treading upon the boundary line that separates it from the State, should be able to evoke and motivate its government to work towards development.
Leader Writer: Wangkheimayum Bhupendra Singh