Right Action for Right Time

At first, heartily appreciate and congratulation to His Excellency, the Honourable Governor of Manipur, Dr. Ambanikumar for his first very positive step for providing better mobile services provided by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), an undertaking firm of Government of India. His excellency called the Chief Secretary of Manipur Government and instructed with regard. This was published on Huyan Lanpao, daily local Manipuri newspaper, on October 14, 2013. As experienced in my life of past 48 years, I never witness to publish such an important news. For this, I heartily expressed congratulation to Huyen Lanpao and its staff, editor and publisher as well. The matter may either be minor or major, but the fact is for the intention of His excellency’s goodwill comment on the improper functionaries of the state goverment and centre government as well. A great image for proper monitoring the state goverment adminitration is reflected on it.

The telecommunication services provided by BSNL in Manipur is unsatisfactory to the customers. They never provide quality service since its operation. But none could comment on their work and maintenance. They never try to get comments on their service and their staff never responed properly when customers contacted for any information of lodged for complaints. They hold Lok Adalats but did not fulfill customers wish. Their staff treated with unatural manners to the customers when they were alone in the state for getting a land line connection or mobile connection or WLL connection. As experienced a customer waited more than 3 years after depositing initial deposit of a land line or WLL connection. Their staff and higher official authorities also gave more attention for those who had a good background either by the state government authority or their circle. For getting a SIM card the customers had suffered a lot of problems like standing whole the day in Q and so on. But, someone could easily get it without any labour in those days. This showed that they never treated their customers in parallel views. Since launching other private mobile network services in the state they lost more than 50% of their customers. They covered all the areas of the state for the service. They provided Broadband services too. They always maintained to provide of their best level in the capital. But it is not satisfactory then what will be happen to the other places apart from Imphal. It is hopeless. But they charges for using their services never deduct as per their rule even though they did not maintain the proper service. This will also be one of the reasons why customers left them day by day.


At Kakching, they provided all their services. But mobile service is always interrupted so that most of the people did not use them. But they were the lone service provider of Internet broadband service at Kakching so that they got the maximum customers here in Thoubal District. But the customers always got slow speed and frequent interrupted service due to lack of technical installations of machineries and cut off optical fibre frequently. As the state wholly suffered the power problem except the VIP and prepaid service at Imphal, the customer lost at least 500 hours out of 720 hours in a month even thou they provide their service during this hours. The customers also lost due to  frequent interruption of their service when the power is available. This shows that the customers totally lost but can not leave them as unavailability of alternative service. Other mobile network services provide internet service through SIM card. But that is also more worse so that the customers subscribe their service. They charged the fees for using this service at maximum whereas they provide minimum service. And we have heared about the installation of 3D mobile service at Kakching Telephone Exchange before 4/5 years, but its service is not provided till date. We have lodged complaints to the higher authorities but nothing improved yet. So, people as a whole need a mass social boycott of their services till they provide maximum service.


I again politely appeal to His Excellency for monitoring the services of the basic items like power, water, communication etc. provided by the state government. This is really true that today nothing can be developed without power. For establishing and running small and medium scale industrial unit, telecommunication, communication, servicing units, administration, proper functioning of various government, public and private offices, domestic uses etc depends on power. Without it nothing will be developed and functioned properly. The power supplied by the man made generators never achieved maximum target. But, in Manipur the availability of power supplied by the state government is totally like a powerless state even though the main resource for running Loktak Hydro Electric Power Project, Loktak lake belongs to the state. The state government bought power from the neighbouring state for supplying power in the state. In the average of 60 to 80 megawatt is received in the state per day. But the the state required a capacity of 135 megawatt at least per day for supplying to the consumers. So, due to the availability of unsufficient power, the power department distributed power in load shading system. Pre paid power supplied was recently introduced in the area of Khwairamband Bazar. The department also maintained a VIP line to which power is supplied to the residential areas of Governor, Ministers, MLAs, State Government Offices etc. This VIP line and pre paid areas consumed a capacity of 25 megawatts per day. Other remaining is supplied to the whole state. In some days the state received only 40 to 45 megawatts. In those days 25 megawatts were utilised to supply the said areas without fail and interuption. The remaining 15 to 20 megawatts tried to utilise to the whole state which is impossible to maintain. So, the department instructed to the power sub-stations not to supply power to the public. But according to the policy of India Government, first priority should ge given to the public for any scheme launched by them. But in Manipur, the department always tried to maintain for VIPs who could arrange alternative means. So, the 24x7 hours availability of power to their residential and offices of the VIPs, they should take as public should also get sufficient power supply as them. But it is totally different. And one more thing is that the supply of the remaining power to the other places of the state is also unparallel. Some places got uninterrupted power supply like VIP line in Imphal and some other places got no supply to whole days. This type of power distribution system should create voilence among the public in some days.


The Honourable Chief Minister of Manipur held Power and promised to supply power 20 hours in a day to the whole state. This is his 3rd term of Chief Minister of the state. But he can not even keep up 50% of his words. Very shameful thing it is. But some unofficial sources it is known that at particular places power is supplied as VIP line even though others do not get even an hour in the whole day. Consumers get power in an average of 180 hours out of 720 hours generally in a month. But they charges a revenue of Rs. 310/-, Rs. 400/- and so on in domestic usage per month which varies from place to place. The reason why they charge differently is not known to us but it is a fact. For example, The RE Division No. 1 charges Rs. 310/- per consumer in domestic usage and Rs. 550/- in commercial usage. This is same to whole consumer but the power utilisation per consumer is different. Some rich consumers utilised power by using. rice cooker, washing machine, fridge, TV, Computer, Ceiling and table fans and 5 to 10 bulbs etc. whereas some poor consumers utilised only a little amount of power for 2 to 3 bulbs. However, they charged the amount of Rs. 310/- per month even though their utilisation has a gulf difference. Some consumers were supplied Metre for calculating his power utilisation. But they never count the meter reading, they charged the same fixed rate of Rs. 310/- like the price of a trouser. What a funny thing they treated.


As per Tariff Schedule settled by the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission of Manipur and Mizoram, the energy charges from 1 to 100 kWh is Rs. 2.20/- per kWh. But in Manipur a consumer of domestic energy usage never goes beyond 60 kWh per month due to the adequate unavailability of energy. So, a consumer should pay Rs 132.00 for energy usage plus Rs. 60 for fixed charged which sums up Rs. 192/- in maximum per unit. At Kakching according to the voluntary survey of the commercial units in the market area to which the department recently installed the Digital meter in the month of April-May 2012, an energy connection shop or servicing unit consumes energy in the average of 40 to 50 kWh per month according to their meter reading. This shows that the department did not supply energy at all but the department charges Rs. 550/- for being a commercial unit. But according to the meter reading, he should pay not more than Rs. 230/- with fixed charges. But the department illegally charged more. Then for a new connection, they charged Rs.4000/- to 5000/- for domestic consumer but in TR they only booked for Rs. 1800/-. When complained and argued, they betrayed and disallowed for that connection. For BPL famalies this initial deposit should not be charged . In short what kind of crusade they treated to the consumers. One more thing is that the department used state force when diconnection to the consumer. They have the legal right to disconnect the energy line of an unpaid consumer but for doing their duty why they used state force. This means that the consumers interrupted when they function their duties but why ? We should need to study the reasons to which can make a solution. To use the state force and disconnected the energy line forcely, should not solve the problem. Some should use alternative means to get energy unauthorizely. Because they could not look after the matter daily. This should make losses to the government more and more.


So, finally I pray to His Excellecy to monitor the departments of the state goverment for better functioning in the interst of the people of Manipur. And if His Ecellency grant me the permission for a meeting I should highly welcome it and never miss the chance.

Athoiba Leeching Purel

Life

Hijam Irabot Singh was born in a poor family on September 30, 1896 at Pishumthong Oinam Leikai. He lost his father Hijam Ibungohal Singh at his very early age. So, he and along with his mother Chongtham Chanu Thambalngangbi Devi came to the house of  his paternal aunt, Sougaijam Ongbi Ibeton Devi at Moirangkhom Sawaijam, Imphal. He grew up and began his education under the care of her aunt. He read upto class VII at Johnston and went to Dacca with his cousin, son of a well-to-do family for further study. However, he didn’t stayed there long enough to complete his education. He thought that college or university degree was not neccessary for him. One day he suddenly left Dacca and roamed the villages in Assam and Tripura where Manipuris were largely inhabited. He wanted to sum up and settled down together for preserving their own cultural identities.

He came back to Manipur in 1915 but her mother was no more. So, he was sheltered in the house of Maibam Samdan who was a member of the Manipur State Durban of Wangkhei, Imphal. So, he was closed to the royal family. Since chilhood days, he was brilliant and always stood for the truth and in his leisure time he roamed from one to another and talked with them sincerely and tried to know their problems and style of living. He was a sports man as well as an artist too. He loved his motherland very and tried to groom the younger generation and led them towards a common goal to attain freedom. His first and foremost strive was to free Manipur from bondage.

To know his simplicity, brilliantness and truthfullness, Churchand Maharaj, the king of Manipur, gave the hand of Khomdonsanam, the eldest daughter of his elder brother. And he was also appointed member of Sadar Panchayat court with all the privileges including a considerable plot of land. However, he was still against the evil deeds and taxes imposed to the poor people by the feudal monarachy under British imperalism. He scarificed all for poor peasants. He was arrested and put into jail and finally exiled from the state. He worked for the freedom of his motherland till death. He died on September 26, 1956 at Tangubo Sedo, a remote village of Burma at the foothill of Ango Ching.

Social Activist
 

The western education system was encouraged by him. After returning from Dacca in 1915 he established schools for imparting better education. He collected and taught the students till he was appointed as Sadar Panchayat after his marriage with Khomdonsana, the eldest daughter of the brother of Sir Churchand Maharaj, the king of Manipur. Most of the schools were admitted boys. He   wanted to join the girls in schools. But the society did not accept western education to the girls. They were engaged in domestic household duties. But he tried with his best to involve and pertake them in any matter of the society. This was exposed with his full support during Nupi Lal.

His first collection of poetry ‘Sheidam Sheireng’ was pescribed as a text book by the Government in 1929. He was also a poet, dramatist, writer, novelist, columnist and travelogue. After returning to Manipur, he published the first ever Manipuri Literary Journal ‘Meitei Chanu’ in 1922 with the help of RK Birendrajit Singh, son of Jubaraj Tikendrajit who was hanged after capturing in the Anglo-Manipuri War 1891, but could not last long due to limited readership and financial constraint. As a columnist, in 1930 he regularly contributed articles on socio-economic issues like women education, economic plight of the poor etc. and published in the monthly journal ‘Yakairol’ edited by Dr. N. Leiren Singh. In 1932 he started to publish the novel ‘Mohini’ in serial but could not publish wholly as the publication was closed down. But he did not give up his inspirations to write down. He again contributed articles on the newly published journel ‘Lalit Manjuri’ which was edited by A. Darendrajit. Along with the company of the Manipuri Literature Lovers, he established Manipuri Sahitya Parishad in 1935. He wrote his best book ‘Imagi Puja’ while he was in the Silhet Jail in 1942. He wrote, translated and composed many songs describing motherland, its freedom and struggle of the poor peasants.  In 1922, Town Club, the first sports club in Manipur was established. He was a founder member and a player as well. In 1930 Manipur Dramatic Union was established. He was also a founder member of this union and he created the logo of the union.

Bramhasabha was formed by the nobles under the instruction of the king under British imperalism. They could declare anyone to be Vaisnava or to be an outcaste, to boycott socially, to levy various taxes in the name of religion. Forced labour system was also introduced by them for their safeguard and easy monitoring their duties. This impact resulted to the poor peasants more worser than ever. He strongly opposed these evil practices and maladministrations. Nikhil Hindu Manipuri Mahasabha was established in 1934 for welfare of the Manipuri residing inside and outside of Manipur. He was elected as General Secretary and its second and third sessions held at Silchar and Mandlay (Burma) in 1936 and 1937 respectively. Disobeying the rules of the Bramhasabha, he himself did all the works for the welfare of the people. He was again elected as President in the fourth session of the Nikhil Hindu Manipuri Mahasabha held in December 1938 at Chinga Lampak. He omitted the word Hindu in the very name and remained as a political party. The session was started with the patriotic slogan ‘Bande Matram’ which was banned by the British. The session proclaimed openly that the Mahasabha resolved that full responsible government will be formed and election will be held in Manipur and further resolved to abolish Forced Labour and the power of Branhasabha. And then there issued an order that as the Mahasabha had become a political party, the state employees must leave from the Mahasabha or leave the employment of the State. Without any hesistation, Irabot resigned immediately from the high post he held and sacrificed all for poor peasants.

He started to roam through rural areas and studied their livelihood. Most of the general people were cultivators and worked throughout the year to their respective fields which belonged to the rich landlord. After harvesting the major share of the their product was taken by the landlord. All the rates and prices were fixed by the rich people. In those days the products were at the least quantity as the cultivating way was also very simple. Nothing gained by the farmers after giving land owner’s share. In 1929, there was a famine and people did not get rice to buy in the local market as a large quantity of rice were exported. The women agitated to ban th export of rice but armed soldiers were used to control the mob and there were many injuries. It was happened on December 12, 1929 to which was known as Second Nupi Lal. He was arrested in connection with praising the women on the Second Nupi Lal in a public meeting held on Januar 7, 1940. He was imprisoned in jail for three years. In the jail he demanded to provide good quality of food and essential commodities. So, he was shifted to Silhet jail.

The Second World War was broke out when he was released from Silhet jail. But unfortunately he was banned to enter in Manipur as the Second World War broke out. They thought that he might again revolt against them during this war time so that they instructed to arrest him again for a short time. He was permitted to enter in Manipur in 1946 as the war was almost over. He formed Students and Women Organisation and held frequent meeting to resist the formation of Purbanchal State by all means. After getting total independence from British Empire, the first election was held in 1948. He was elected from Utlou Constituency but could not participate the first assembly sitting. Because, cash awards were declared for his arrest. He had remained in underground. The main factor for being an underground was that on September 21, 1948 a public rally for protesting the formation of Purbanchal State was organised. The rally was blocked by the police at Pungdongbam and there was a violent and killed a policaman. Just after hearing the news he postponed the meeting to which was arranged to hold at Manipur Dramatic Union. A warrent was issued to arrest him. Being heard the news he was escaped.


Revolutionary
 

This was expected that his true love for motherland was inspired by the ‘Swadesi Movement’ while he was in Dacca. Returning from Dacca he wanted his motherland Manipur to make freedom from the British rule. For achieving the goal he thought that the youths needed to be learned. So, he established Manipuri Schools and began to teach the youths. Other than this teaching profession, he wrote and published his inspirations. But due to the lack of readership, his task was not able to get his target. However, he tried with the best to make a great social changes by encouraging and leading the people to oppose the evil rules formed by the feudal monarchy under British imperalism. The tried to strengthen the women community involving their participation in the social matters. His deed finally gained were shown by Second Nupi Lal.

He did all the works for the welfare of the people specially for poor peasants whom were outcasted and social boycotted by the Bramhasabha. The marriage and sharad for the outcasted people were done by himself opposing to the rules framed by the Bramhasabha. He worked against the landlords in favour of the peasants for fixing rates and prices of labour. His dream was to make freedom fof his motherland. These were focused a great image on his writings and contributions. He sacrificed all the royal inheritances for the people. But the man who loved his motherland so much and sacrificed his whole for his motherland could not even to die on his motherland Manipur.