By Dr Lakhon Kma
In Meghalaya, the more we yearn for change, the more it remains the same and we get frustrated election after election. Come 2023, we are back to Meghalaya’s eternal fight between hope of change for good and frustration; will the former ever be triumphant, only time will tell. Our seemingly everlasting problems of lack of Medical College and Engineering College, traffic congestion, plight of school teachers and health workers, unemployment, corruption, nepotism, rampant destruction of fragile ecosystems, particularly along the highways, and water bodies, etc. does not appear to leave us anytime soon. I do believe that the root cause of all the above problems stems from lack of focused plan for growth for decades and the more dangerous one-the medieval mindset of people at large. In spite of all tall claims of growth and progress by people at the helm of affairs, it is quite worrisome to see the ever-growing gaps between haves and have-nots.
The problem with Meghalaya is that there is hardly any alternative idea on the path of progress offered by any party simply because people and their ideas are the same, only their symbol keep changing over elections depending upon where the wind blows; loyalty to a party and its ideology almost does not exist among Meghalaya’s politicians. It’s only the chair and power that matters and therefore, faith reposed by the people on elected representatives is toasted in the air. Resultantly, progress is reset at zero. After all, old wine tastes the same even in new bottles.
It is sad that the Congress party in Meghalaya is in complete disarray with hardly any MLA under its control. It is trying hard to recover from self-inflicted wounds. Although the President of MPCC may not necessarily be the cause of abandonment, his appointment did act as a catalyst to accelerate the MLAs’ decision to dump the Congress party. Whatever remains are just namesakes and are aligning with the ruling dispensation for maximum benefit and waiting to jump ship with minimum loss as the election draws closer. In that sense, perhaps Dr. Mukul Sangma and Co. could take the high moral ground on the terms of separation from the Congress party having seen its abysmal performances in the last two General elections and several State elections.
It is equally sad that BJP, which is as good or bad as any other party, is yet to obtain public acceptance across Meghalaya, thanks mainly to the failure of its leaders in the State to showcase, in right earnest, the good work of the BJP-led Government in the Centre. Schemes such as Jal Jeevan Mission, Annapurna Scheme of free ration, old age pension scheme, Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan ArogyaYojana (AB-PMJAY), Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana, Atal Pension Yojana, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY), Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan, Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas, Digital India, Skill India, etc. under different Ministries, Government of India, no doubt, are immensely beneficial, particularly to the poor and needy in the State. The State leadership of BJP could not capitalize on these social security schemes of the Central government packed with its strong nationalist identity that values local ethos, cultures and traditions. On the other hand, other North-Eastern States like Assam, Manipur, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland were smarter in convincing their people to accept BJP as a party and has immensely benefitted for the larger interest of the development of their respective States with generous blessings from the Centre amalgamated with a sense of accountability to its people and the Centre. Meghalayans need not be ‘the last of the Mohicans’ in terms of overall development and therefore, we have to make a choice to decide our own destiny. Are we ready?
As an alternative choice, there could also be an alliance of fresh ideas among like-minded parties or organizations to replicate what happened in the recent election in Punjab where Congress party was routed out due to public’s frustration with the incumbent government and a strong desire for change. Perhaps, time has come for smaller parties to bury their hatchets and form a formidable pre-poll alliance with a new clear-cut roadmap for the overall development of the State. Notwithstanding anything, alliance works on the principle of gain and sacrifices for the larger common interest of development of the State for everyone, particularly the downtrodden.
Meghalaya is also facing a serious dilemma that can have a tremendous impact on the entire process of development and that is the business people joining politics. There is nothing wrong in businessmen and women joining politics provided they do it with a strong urge and commitment to serve the people rather than only easing their way of doing business through the route of politics. However, more often than not, it has been found that their entering politics does more harm than good. After winning, while their businesses get expanded with impunity, there is hardly any time dedicated to frame public welfare policies for the good of the general public. While they gain, the State loses its rightful growth. Hence, educated and well-meaning people with full dedication and fresh outlook on the growth of the State is what Meghalaya needs. Such will not rely on their Chief Minister to rescue them every now and then on serious matters concerning the development of the State through various Ministries.
Elections 2023 will be a fight largely between rich candidates who are concerned only with furthering their business causes and are least bothered about the concern and plight of the poor and needy versus fresh, smart, young, educated candidates with newer ideas. In democracy, it is in the hands of, ‘we the people,’ as to what kind of government we want. Whether we will back undeserving candidates for a few hundred or thousand rupees or household items or candidates who will show us clear-cut paths to development for a better future albeit with no money or articles to distribute. The choice will be ours. Let’s hope that new and fresh ideas reach people in every nook and corner of the State through truly concerning voices and mediums.
In this 50th year of our Statehood and beyond, let’s hope that we are not left helpless and frustrated once again after the State Assembly Election in 2023.
(The writer teaches at NEHU.)