We once opined that a comprehensive investigation into the utilization of funds meant for the hill areas either through the Manipur government agencies or the ADCs could certainly be like opening a Pandora’s Box. Had the hill based CSOs and general public done a impartial review of how development funds meant for the hill areas had been utilised in the last few decades, they would have found out the truth.
Sadly, they had all along believed in whatever was being fed to them by the both elected representatives and their own officer elite. A concept of majority bias and of valley leaders and officers pocketing funds meant for the hills was repeatedly grilled into the minds of common people. During election campaigns and other forums, anti-Meitei rhetoric was a favourite theme for many of the leaders. The majority community Meitei has long been at the butt-end of allegations of robbing the benefits meant for the hill people while blindsiding the fact that it was mostly bureaucrats from the hills who are at the helm of state affairs with only a sprinkling from the valley.
While one can still count the number of direct IAS and IPS officers from the majority community, there are plenty from among the hill communities and they have been ruling the roost all this time. Politics-wise, the state has seen a Chief Minister for the Muslim minority community and two from among the Tangkhul leaders. In fact, Rishang Keishing served as the chief minister for nearly 10 years, second only to O Ibobi Singh’s tenure. And there was equitable distribution of ministers in almost all the governments formed so far.
Again, it is the responsibility of the elected representatives to monitor the utilisation of funds meant for their own constituencies and ensure that the funds were being used judiciously. One should also remember that N Biren Singh in his first term as CM started a topography-based budgeting for development works in the hill areas like roads and other works which takes into account the difficult terrain and accessibility.
In such a background, a propaganda from the Kuki elite that there is disparity in development funds between the hills and the valley is not a new thing. Let us say, it has been going on for decades. One must also remember that it is not only the elected ADC officials who are involved in the embezzlement of hill development funds, but unelected officials and underground elements also.
A recent example on how development funds meant for ADCs were utilised came out in the open through some RTI queries. Hill based RTI activists were abducted and tortured for seeking information under RTI act on the dispersal of funds for various development projects carried out by ADCs. This happens not only in Naga areas but in Kuki dominated areas also. But officials were always held at ransom by Kuki militant groups under Suspension of Operation (SoO). This puts to rest the malicious campaign by vested tribal elements of the majority community embezzling funds meant for the hills.
It is the hill representatives or the so-called champions of tribals who are actually siphoning off funds meant for the common tribals. State PWD on Wednesday presented a brief on various road and bridge projects undertaken in the state, responding to condemnations regarding the alleged imbalanced allocation of projects under the CRIF scheme and perceived biases in executing road projects between the hill and valley regions of Manipur.
The total estimated expenditure amounts to Rs 2395.51 crore for the hill region and Rs 1300.21 crore for the valley region, it highlighted. Awaiting sanction under MoRT&H and NH for FY 2024-25 stands at Rs 1374.81 crore for five projects in the hills and Rs 1125.97 crore for two projects in the valley. Where is the disparity?
