Celebrating Good Governance Week Is Just Shamelessness

The Government of India has designated a week to celebrate “Good Governance Week,” but in Manipur, this observance comes across as a cruel irony rather than a reflection of reality. For the past year and nine months, the state has been engulfed in unprecedented violent conflict that has shattered its social fabric, displaced over 60,000 individuals, and claimed the lives of more than 200 people officially—though the actual toll is feared to be higher. Such a grim context raises a pertinent question: What governance is being celebrated here?
Manipur has been a textbook case of governance failure. The state apparatus has collapsed in many places, with vast areas in the hills entirely devoid of government presence. The prolonged absence of governance in these regions has allowed lawlessness to thrive, exacerbating the ethnic divide and perpetuating cycles of violence. The imposition of curfews for months on end, far from restoring order, has only deepened the alienation of the people. Essential services remain disrupted, with the state unable to ensure even the basic security of its citizens, let alone rebuild public trust.
Bandhs, blockades, and strikes—phenomena that have become the hallmark of a dysfunctional system—have brought the state’s economy to its knees. The frequent shutdowns have resulted in the loss of crores of rupees, crippling local businesses and livelihoods. Travel restrictions due to violence have left people isolated, unable to move freely within their own land. The physical and psychological toll of this turmoil is incalculable, leaving a population that is traumatized and increasingly disillusioned with the state’s capacity to govern.
At the heart of this prolonged crisis lies the state government’s inability—or unwillingness—to address the root causes of the conflict. The ethnic tensions between communities have been left to fester, with no meaningful dialogue or reconciliation efforts in sight. Instead of acting as a neutral arbiter, the Indian state appears to have taken sides, further alienating the Meitei community while emboldening the Kukis. The deployment of central forces, often hailed as a corrective measure, has done little to instill confidence among the people. Their actions are perceived as ineffective, and at times, even complicit in the state of lawlessness.
The lack of governance is not merely a failure of administration; it is an indictment of the moral bankruptcy of the political leadership. How can a government that has failed to uphold its most basic responsibilities—ensuring security, justice, and the rule of law—proclaim “Good Governance Week” with a straight face? Such celebrations, in the midst of a humanitarian crisis, come across as nothing short of shameless. They not only insult the intelligence of the people but also trivialize the immense suffering endured by the victims of this conflict.
The residents of Manipur are acutely aware that good governance is not measured by symbolic gestures or empty rhetoric. It is measured by the state’s ability to respond to crises, to uphold the rule of law, and to provide a platform for justice and reconciliation. On all these counts, Manipur’s government has failed spectacularly. The absence of accountability has further compounded the problem, with no clear roadmap for restoring normalcy or addressing the grievances of the affected communities.
Instead of celebrating, the government should take this time to reflect on its glaring failures and initiate meaningful action to address the crisis. For the people of Manipur, governance is not about a week-long event or a catchy slogan. It is about the assurance that their lives, dignity, and rights matter to the state. Until these assurances are fulfilled, “Good Governance Week” will remain an insult to their suffering and a testament to the shamelessness of the political class.