Neglect of People

N Somorendro Singh’s article “State of Education in Manipur” (EPW, 4 June 2011) demonstrates the utter callousness and apathy of the leadership of Manipur and other relatively backward states to educate the citizens of the country. The poor state of education in Manipur indicates that authorities have no strategy for the spread of education. There is scant regard for education which is crucial for human dignity. The money game involved in getting government jobs is a shocking reflection on corruption. The article has done well to show how the union government, which quickly responds in the case of violence and threat to security, never invests any thought and energy into measures which reform society, ensure human dignity and uplift the people. Both the central and state governments stand exposed. Even after more than six decades of independence the government has not taken measures to implement the basic constitutional principles. This neglect has created a deep humanitarian crisis for a substantial part of our population, not just in Manipur but everywhere. We must take suitable action and work to build a society which will ensure justice and equal opportunity.

Saroj Upadhyay