Corruption is the root for decaying the society. No person encourages corruption. Even the Chief Minister, N. Biren Singh had assured the people to make Manipur a corruption free state. Every people in the state knows how the present Chief Minister N. Biren Singh had put his effort to wipe out corruption from the state even by setting up an Anti Corruption cell and later strengthening the Manipur Vigilance Commission by renaming it as Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau in January 2018. Much has been tried, but Manipur still continue to remain as a decayed society with report of corruption having heard every single day. Besides having a strong Vigilance and anti-corruption bureau, corrupt persons are often let free on failure to produce any evidences. Even if evidences are produced many still are let free for reason best known to the government authority. The scene of corruption seen in the state of Manipur is indeed a revelation of the mindset of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on his promises to eradicate corruption from the state of Manipur.
On June 4, 2020, Imphal Times carried a news report that exposed corruption that has been going on in the Custom Division Office, Imphal. In the news report supported by video evidences, an inspector of the Custom Office was heard asking an advocate a sum of Rs. 1 lakh as tips. The news report was again telecasted in a local cable TV some few days later but no action has been taken up against those officials concerned. On the assumption that the state government under the leadership of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh will support and encourage fight against corruption, people like advocate Chongtham Victor and Amom Malemsana had come up with courage and expose corrupt practice of an officer at Custom Office. But as no action has been taken up by the concern government department the two finally received threat calls.
On the other hand, this newspaper also highlights about the irregularities in the submission of beneficiary lists under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme in Bishnupur district. The aim of the government of India to support the small and marginal farmers has been made a mockery by some government officials. The report about submission of the names of farmers who are not existed in the village of Khoijuman Khullen, Khoijuman Khunou and Nachou has been highlighted by this newspaper but no response has been given from the side of the government till the filing of this story.
The series of events happening in the state shows that, corruption still is at large and for reason best known, the Chief Minister of Manipur, once a crusade for anti-corruption is now silence on corruption.
