Order in Chaos

“North East region has some of the highest literacy rates in the country. Why hasn’t that converted to development? Obviously educated folks work and are aware of things” we sought a clarification from an official working towards providing better education. “Don’t be so sure. First of all, quality matters. Secondly, what after education? Are there jobs here? No. People move to mainland but that is a small number. Also, some of the places here are completely cut off. Most of these tribes live on the hills which are not accessible at all” “Add to this the fact that government schools practically don’t function here. On paper it is a full-fledged knowledge temple but on the ground there are only buildings.  Teachers outsource their jobs to the locals for a certain sum and they work somewhere else.” “With the regular bandhs and violence, education becomes a luxury for many. Further, the kids lose that flow of schooling. Most students go to missionary schools or private ...

I noticed a lot of BJP flags around the place and asked one of the locals if they had the chance to win in the upcoming elections in June and if they would make changes.  “I’m not sure. Last year the central government cut off funds and demanded an account of the expenses already incurred over the years. The Congress government here now did not have money to pay the militants who would help with the votes. But, I have heard that BJP has established a link with militants and are now paying them for the same votes. So it is all messed up.” After days of trying to prove myself wrong with more information, I reached where I had started. This was not about some local issue blown out of proportion but a state sanctioned setup to give itself something to work with, for votes, for money, for status, for grants, for jobs or anything else they could think of! “Let me explain what the situation is here” , said our friend who has been stud...

It was only few minutes after parting with ₹1000 at the entrance of Imphal that it struck me. Uniform people are called in for paramilitary action, since when do they concern themselves with traffic violations? “See, you have to understand that this is an Open Secret (A term that I heard so often that I cringe whenever I hear it now). ” replied one our friends higher up in the chain. “All these security forces deployed here don’t have authority to prosecute and jail the people caught. That power lies solely with the police. Here’s the twist. The police here are grossly inefficient. But let’s face it, they’re locals too. They have the same fear and mind-sets as do the rest of the people here. I remember when a few months ago we captured a few militants with arms and took them to the police station to file a complaint. All the policemen literally ran out in a matter of minutes to avoid filing an FIR. What should we do now? You tell me.” ...