Jobs and Compensation Impotent in the Face of Irreparable Loss – Enough with the Foolery!

The relentless specter of death, the disappearance of the youth, and the haunting echoes of sorrow have become an agonizing refrain in Manipur over the past six and a half months. This tragic saga shows no signs of abating, a damning testament to the efficacy of the N Biren Singh-led government. The solemn duty of safeguarding citizens and their property has been fumbled by the very government entrusted with this paramount responsibility. Lives are extinguished, homes set ablaze, and a desperate exodus to relief camps unfolds as a harrowing consequence. In the face of each tragedy, the government exhibits a curious apathy toward proactively shielding its populace. Rather than fortifying defenses and implementing swift measures, it appears more invested in placating the grieving families and the wounded.
Compensation and employment opportunities are dangled before the kin of the deceased, a dubious tactic seemingly designed to stifle dissent and preemptively quell any outcry against the government’s glaring ineptitude. A disconcerting pattern emerges wherein the authorities, instead of bolstering preventive measures, engage in post-tragedy damage control. A poignant illustration of this systemic failure is found in the case of Anthony and Avinash from Akham, who went missing without a trace. This is just one example of many. In their desperate quest for answers, the aggrieved family sought solace from the Chief Minister and the Governor, who proffered assurances that the full might of the government’s security apparatus would be mobilized to locate the missing students. Optimism briefly flickered in the hearts of the bereaved, trust momentarily restored.
However, as time unfurled its merciless march, the assurances proved hollow, and the hope crumbled. The grieving families and concerned organizations, initially subdued by the semblance of government commitment, refrained from stirring the cauldron of public protest, clinging to the anticipation that the authorities would unravel the mystery surrounding the missing individuals. Alas, their optimism has been met with resounding silence. The nadir of disillusionment was reached when the mothers of the two missing students, once buoyed by hope, found themselves relegated to the shadows of neglect. A ten-hour wait outside the Chief Minister’s residence, from 10:30 am to 7:30 pm, culminated not in solace or answers but in rejection. The very leader they had entrusted with their hopes callously declined to meet them, shattering the last vestiges of trust.
These grieving mothers, in their quest for justice, sought not the palliative balm of compensation but the truth regarding the fate of their children. Their faith in the Chief Minister, once unwavering, now lies shattered, buried beneath the weight of unfulfilled promises and governmental ineptitude. The hope that the government would rise to the occasion and address the plight of its people has long since been interred in the graveyard of shattered beliefs.
In the aftermath of each tragic episode—each missing soul and every life prematurely extinguished—a longstanding ritual unfolds in Manipur: the formation of Joint Action Committees (JACs). These voluntary groups, traditionally revered as stalwart interlocutors for grieving families, historically embarked on protests against the government in pursuit of justice. Once held in high esteem for their unwavering dedication to seeking amicable resolutions, the past six months have cast a shadow over the credibility of these committees. The erosion of the JAC’s reputation has been swift, as its members appear to have become unwitting pawns in the government’s game. The JAC, seeking answers and justice, engages with the Chief Minister or local lawmakers. However, these interactions often devolve into political persuasion, with authorities urging the committees to quell potential protests, all while making promises seldom fulfilled. The government’s aim is clear: suppress any dissent that might spotlight its inadequacies.
Most victims of this protracted conflict hail from impoverished backgrounds. In the face of their unimaginable loss, the bereaved families, often grappling with economic hardship, find solace in the prospect of compensation and employment. It’s a bitter truth that compensation comes not from the pockets of Chief Ministers or MLAs but at the expense of public funds. The narrative of financial redress, while comforting for grieving families, underscores the systemic failure to address the root causes of the crisis. The public, in scrutinizing these compensatory gestures, must recognize that these offerings do not absolve the government of its responsibility to establish lasting peace and a substantive resolution. The prevailing sentiment is one of waiting—a populace anticipating their inevitable turn to be victimized by the ongoing crisis. Regrettably, the government seems equally poised, not to provide lasting solutions, but to administer compensations and jobs as temporary panaceas.
The temporal span of six and a half months, a significant chapter in this harrowing saga, serves as an exhaustive examination of the government’s capabilities. In the poignant words of Martin Luther King Jr., “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” The time has come to subject the Chief Minister, Ministers, and MLAs of Manipur to this profound measure, as their responses in these challenging times will shape the destiny of the people they are duty-bound to serve.