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01/03/2006: "9 NSCN (K) cadres arrested"

9 NSCN (K) cadres arrested The Morung Express
GUWAHATI, JAN 2 (NET): 9 NSCN (K) cadres were arrested from different parts of the Karbi Anglong district of Assam on Sunday last. Out of the 9 cadres, 5 were arrested from Mahur area and the rest from Maibong area of the district. According to a police source, the militants were seeking shelter, taking advantage of the anti-NSCN (K) mood in the district. 9 mm pistols along with cartridges were recovered from the cadres.
14 AR celebrates 47th raising day Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 02: Troops of 14 Assam Rifles celebrated its 47th Raising Day with great fanfare at their Battalion Headquarters located at Lairouching, Senapati District, said PIB (DW).

The “Fighting Fourteen” as known in Assam Rifles was raised on 1st Jan 1959 at Meerut under Lt Col Hoshiyar Singh.

The battalion was deployed in Nagaland for 46 years and has been operational in Manipur since the last three years.

The major events included the wreath laying on the war memorial to pay homage to all the brave martyrs who made the supreme sacrifice for upholding the honor of the nation, Special Sainik Sammelan and Ceremonial Quarter Guard Inspection by the Commandant.

Speaking on the occasion, Commandant of 14 Assam Rifles Col G S Bedi expressed deep appreciation for the dedication, sincerity and devotion to duty by all ranks to enhance the name of the battalion.
4 IM cadres join K faction Sangai Express
Kohima, Jan 3 : Four NSCN (IM) cadres have joined the rival NSCN (K) camp along with four sophisticated guns, NSCN (K) sources today claimed, reports NNN. A statement issued by NSCN (K) MIP Kilonser, A J Jami, who himself is a defector from the NSCN (IM), claimed that the NSCN (IM) cadres defected after being disil-lusioned with the NSCN (IM) and divulged that more cadres presently belonging to the NSCN (IM) are expected to join the “mainstream” soon. While the names of the defectors are yet to be revealed, two are repor-tedly from the Sema com-munity while one is a Lotha and the other from the Sangtam community, sources further said.
Islamic militants behind New Year eve shootout The Morung Express
DIMAPUR, JAN 2 (MExN): In a startling disclosure, Dimapur Police today said that the related shooting incidents of December 30 and 31 last were the handiwork of suspected People’s United Liberation Front (PULF) militants. Eight persons have been arrested in this regard. A Police source said that on December 30, a person was shot at and injured after picking a squabble with some Manipuri Muslims suspected to be Manipur-based Muslim insurgents.
This incident occurred at Blue Hill Line, Dimapur. Based on his revelations, Nagaland Police and Central Reserve Police Force personnel were entrusted with vehicle frisking duties. Following instructions, on December 31, police had asked a black Wagon-R vehicle to stop to which it did.
However, after the occupants observed the men in uniform approaching the car, they put the vehicle in gear and subsequently fired.
In the ensuing gun battle, two of the occupants namely Abdul Malik and Aziz Ahmed were injured. A CRPF constable, Anil Kumar Shukla, also sustained a bullet injury in his left ankle. All of the three are recovering in hospital.
However, the driver of the car who escaped unhurt, got out of the car leaving his two accomplices behind, and gave Police the slip under cover of the congested New Flyover at Dimapur where people were awaiting the New Year amidst much festivity.
The escapee is said to be known only as ‘Mote’, an SS major of the PULF. The militant outfit is said to have links with Pakistan’s ISI as well. Believed to follow an orthodox Islamic outlook, the group had earlier banned the consumption of liquor among Muslims in Manipur asking owners of breweries to stop production of liquor citing that such activities violate Islamic laws.
PULF militants had recently shot a person in his legs at a place near Imphal for consuming liquor. The outfit has further warned of more such attacks if the people ignored its diktat. The PULF supports the struggle being waged by various ‘revolutionary’ groups to free Manipur.
The deputy chief of the proscribed organization had earlier said the cadres of the PULF`s Green Army would also embrace the ‘struggle’ without fear or hesitation.
Giving a stern warning, he said the party has prescribed the death penalty for drug-abusers and users of other intoxicants, as well as for informers.
Police further said the Wagon-R was suspected to be a stolen one as no documents pertaining to the purchase of the vehicle was found from the car. 3 empty 9 mm pistol cartridges were also recovered.
After questioning the two injured suspected militants, Police swung into action and raided Levi Complex at MP Road, Dimapur from where eight suspects were rounded up. They have been identified as Azad Khan, Muhammad Ayajuddin, Khan, Riyajuddin, Rehman Khan, Fajul Karim and two persons going by the same name of Riyajuddin.
Dimapur PULF camp busted, 8 held New Kerala
Kohima: Dimapur police yesterday busted a camp of the Peoples' United Liberation Front (PULF) at Dimapur and arrested eight of its cadres.

According to official sources here today, the police busted the camp trailing leads in the New Year eve firing case in Dimapur in which a CRPF jawan and two others were injured when the occupants of a car fired at the CRPF personnel when the latter tried to stop the vehicle for a search.

In the return fire, two of the occupants of the car were also injured. They were arrested from the car while the other occupants escaped with the weapons. On information recieved from the arrested persons, the police yesterday arrested eight more people from an apartment in Levi Complex on MP Road in Dimapur, one of them suspected to be the commander of the camp. The PULF is a Manipur-based Muslim insurgent outfit which opened its office at Dimapur two years back, unnoticed by anyone.

The police recovered incriminating documents from the camp, indicating that it had been collecting tax from people for bringing goods from international border market of Moreh in Manipur and from the Muslim business community at Hongkong market at Dimapur.

Investigation was on to ascertain if there were any other offices of the PULF in the state and arrest the other cadres in Nagaland, police said.
Militancy main obstacle for NE development: Sarkar Assam Tribune
AGARTALA, Jan 2 – Chief Minister Manik Sarkar on Sunday said the militancy is the main obstacle in the developmental process in the north-eastern region though it has declined in the recent past following proactive action adopted by security forces and governments.

Speaking in the seminar titled Vision NER-2020 organized by North Eastern Council (NEC) at Tripura University, Chief Minister made it clear that militancy has been declining as misguided boys started to returning mainstream.

Valuable time has lost and time has come to find a lasting solution to the menace to usher in all round development activities in the region’s state, he said.

Virtually blaming the respective central governments, Chief Minister said poverty is the same as it was during the freedom struggle. “There has been desperate attempt to cover up the real picture on poverty and this should not be happed”, he said adding special care shall be taken up to look after needs of the ST, SC and minority communities. In the same tune, Education Minister Anil Sarkar also expressed concern over the menace in the region hindering the developmental activities. He said conspiracy was hatched to divide the Northeastern region by fomenting secessionist movements in this backward region.

“The need of the hour is to united efforts to counter the deep rooted conspiracy,” he said. NEC advisor, TP Khound, however, highlighted the activities of the body for development in the region.
The region states should capitalize possibilities after the implementation of SAFTA, he added. It may be recalled a two-day seminar on Vision NER-2020 kicked off at the central library of the state’s lone university.

Heavy security forces deployment in CCpur to contain simmering tension The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Jan 2: In view of continued tension over the killing of the IGP (Int), T Thangthuam by RPF cadres on December 31, Churachandpur town has been placed under a security blanket, with heavy deployment of both state and Central security forces to tackle any eventuality.

A team of mediapersons from Imphal which visited Churachandpur today along with volunteers of MAFYF and Human Rights Alert, found the town virtually deserted, as markets, shops, most private and even government offices have stayed closed since the evening of December 31.

According to official sources, in view of the tension in the town, additional security forces, including four police commando units from Imphal and Bishnupur, IRB, women police, CRPF and two battalions of the BSF have been deployed.

Seven combined security posts have been opened at sensitive areas to prevent any riot or other unfortunate incident. Security forces are also conducting regular patrolling, and frisking and checking in the streets of the town.

In view of the hardships faced by the public, the civil police, armed with loudspeakers, also made rounds of the town urging shops and businesses to reopen.

Meanwhile, the promulgation of section 144 of the CrPC in Churachandpur town will continue till normalcy returns to the town.

In the meantime, Meitei residents of the town have condemned the targeted violence against members of the community in Churachandpur following the killing of the police officer.

They pointed out that the Paite community knows that the Meiteis of Churachandpur had no hand in the killing of IGP Thangthuam, and it would be unfair to blame them over the killing.

They also condemned the biased attitude of the security forces in the town, accusing them of failing to ensure the community of the minority Meiteis.

The sudden stoppage of bus services between Churachandpur and Imphal, in reaction to the damage caused to several buses at Churchandpur bazar in the wake of public outrage over the death of T Thangthuam, has meanwhile become a major hardship for the people of the town and elsewhere along the route.

The decision to suspend the passenger service was taken by the Churchandpur Road Bus Owners and Workers Welfare Association and their stir is likely to continue indefinitely till a settlement or normalcy in Churchandpur is restored.
PREPAK greets '06 with a united stand By Our Staff Reporter Sangai Express
IMPHAL, Jan 3 : The proscribed PREPAK has worked out its internal differences and has come under one entity, heralding the coming of a new year.
Announcing this in a statement today, the Central Committee of the outfit said that for long PREPAK has been able to serve as the linking centre for the revolutionary movement and its Red Army has been able to take a major role in the armed movement, able to work in the interest of all and has been one of the armed outfits with a clear cut political understanding of the situation and the armed movement.
However in an unfortunate twist of fate, PREPAK was bifurcated into two groups in August 2003 till the end of 2005. The split within meant that there were internecine killings which diluted the image of the outfit and situation had come to such a pass that there were apprehensions that PREPAK may lose its identity as a revolutionary outfit, admitted the statement.
However the leaders of PREPAK realised the futility of such disunity and internecine clash and started to work towards a reconciliation process.
The differences of opinion and ideas were discussed and dissected threadbare across the table between members of the Central Committee, cadres and Red Army said the outfit and added that after thoroughly going through the issues, it was agreed that PREPAK will not split within again.
Today there is no split within the PREPAK, announced the Central Committee and added that there is unity within the leadership of the outfit.
Henceforth the leadership of PREPAK will work under the principle of one body, one idea and oneness, asserted the statement and promised that in future there will be no split within the outfit. PREPAK will work according to the wishes and aspirations of the people.
PREPAK will take up a number of concrete measures taking into consideration the international political situation. Responsibilities will be taken up according to the situation wherein laws are based on humanitarian grounds and wherein power and authority are chalked out by the people themselves to resolve National conflict, said PREPAK.
The statement further said that PREPAK will work towards taking the insurgency movement to a belligerent level and instill greater international outlook. Towards this, PRE- PAK will work out political objectives, it added. The outfit will also start taling up specific politics and plans for its political works, military works and diplomacy (internal as well as external), assured the statement. Greater stress will be laid on the effects, directly and indirectly perpetrated by colonialism and neo-colonialism, said PREPAK and appealed to the people to extend their co-operation so that the common enemy is defeated.
PREPAK also extended its revolutionary greetings to the KYKL, RPF/PLA, UNLF, KCP and other armed outfits of the North East region.
3 AR men killed, UNLF claims responsibility By Our Staff Reporter Sangai Express
IMPHAL, Jan 3 : At least three Assam Rifles personnel were killed while five other troopers were injured in a gun fight with suspected UNLF cadres today at about 11.30 at Longpi at Tamenglong district under Nungba police station.
According to information received here, the killed Assam Rifles men and the injured belonged to the 36th Bn. The three AR men were killed at the spot, said sources and added that the five injured personnel and the bodies of the slain AR men have been taken to Leimakhong.
The deceased, all Riflemen, are identified as Nabokumar, Gup Singh and Jugendra Singh while the injured are named as JS Negi, Tariq Iqbal, Raju Gurung, BK Ali and Havildar Udoi Singh. The conditions of three are stated to be serious.
The UNLF has claimed responsibility for the attack. A spokesman of the outfit informed that fighting ensued at two places since last night and added that it intensified this morning. The fighting took place at Longpi and Moleghat, said the spokesman and added that while two AR men were killed at Mole-ghat over ten were killed at Longpi. Five AR men were also injured in the gun fights.
PIB Defence Wing however said that no encounter took place at Moleghat but confirmed the death of three AR men at Longpi and injury to five others. Three militants were also injured at Longpi, claimed PIB.
In another incident a jawan of the 26th Rajput Rifle was killed in a bomb explosion at Mulen village in Jiribam sub-division at about 8.30 am yesterday. The deceased is identified as Rabi Pal.
On the other hand, the youth who sustained injuries when a bomb exploded at Thenjol village in CCpur district has been shifted to the district hospital today at about 4 pm.
Patil shocked to see open Bangladesh border: AASU leader Syed Zarir Hussain, Indo-Asian News Service
Guwahati, Jan 3 (IANS) Home Minister Shivraj Patil was shocked when he saw the border with Bangladesh totally unfenced with just concrete pillars separating the two countries, but soon regained his composure, said a student leader who accompanied him.
The home minister along with Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and a team of the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) leaders Monday visited two border sectors along western Assam's Dhubri district. Maslabari, about 315 km west of Assam's main city of Guwahati, was the first destination for Patil and his team of 18 senior home ministry officials, including Border Security Force (BSF) Director General Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary.
'The home minister was literally shocked when he saw that there was no fencing at all in the Maslabari area. People can easily walk through a vast paddy field and enter from Bangladesh to our side of the border,' AASU advisor Sammujjal Bhattacharyya told IANS.
Bhattacharyya was part of the four-member AASU team that accompanied the home minister during the border visit. 'For the past 26 years we have been shouting and demanding that the border be fenced as the porous frontiers were allowing large scale infiltration of illegal Bangladeshis into Assam,' the AASU leader said.
'The government of India always thought we were overreacting. But when we took the home minister to Maslabari and showed him it was free for all in the open border he was indeed surprised.'
The AASU leader said Maslabari was just one instance of the border being open - there are vast stretches in the 272-km land border that Assam shares with Bangladesh that are yet to be fenced.
The Maslabari sector is about 20 km and the entire stretch is open with no border fencing.
'This border would have to be sealed by December 2006. The entire border would be fenced,' Bhattacharyya quoted Patil as saying during the visit.
The next stop was the Sonahat area where also Patil was reportedly embarrassed.
'There is a border fencing in the Sonahat area but then it was in a deplorable condition. The fencing was just in name,' the AASU leader said. The minister again assured that new double-layered fencing would be erected in place of the existing ones. Patil's visit to the border follows a commitment by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last May that a joint team of the central and the Assam governments and AASU leaders would inspect the Bangladesh border areas to oversee border fencing works.
The AASU is a students' group spearheading a campaign to oust illegal Bangladeshi nationals from the state and sealing the border. The six-year-old anti-foreigners' uprising had culminated in the signing of the Assam Accord in 1985 although several major clauses of the pact have not yet been implemented.
'This is a major victory for the AASU to have taken the home minister to the border and made him see the free-for-all border. Now we shall monitor progress of the fencing work,' Bhattacharyya said.
Caring enough to know Max Ediger column for the Moring Express
Some years ago, while sharing a noon meal with a small group of friends from the Asian region where I live, I was reminded once again how seriously people in Asia concern themselves with U.S. politics.
As has happened so often during the past few months, the conversation had focused on the U.S. presidential elections and the campaigns leading up to those elections. My friends, coming from such diverse places as South Korea, India, Malaysia and Indonesia, spoke knowledgeably and with much passion about the various Democratic contenders and their platforms. It was clear that they watch these proceedings with great anticipation because the outcome of this election will directly affect their lives just as past U.S. presidential elections have.
How so? Two general examples might start to explain the concern from an Asian perspective.
When the U.S. economic or political policy moves, the rest of the world feels the bumps. Having a major say in who gets access to World Bank and IMF funds, the United States makes certain that those countries that agree with U.S. policy get loans and other benefits while those who openly disagree are sanctioned, even though such loans are essential for the survival of their people. Despite the fact that many countries have suffered from terrorism for decades, with the loss of tens of thousands of lives, little global action was taken to help them solve the problem. But when the U.S. president calls for a “war on terrorism,” these countries are sucked into the conflict whether they agree with the strategy or not. They are forced to use their meager resources to support an approach to dealing with terrorism that, often times, they know will not provide them with any security. If they call for a different strategy for fighting terrorism, they become an “enemy” and lose financial aid that they sorely need.
Hoping to ease the heaviness of the conversation a little, I suggested jokingly that perhaps everyone in the world should be allowed to participate in the U.S. elections. My comment was not met with laughter. Instead, heads nodded affirmatively. They know that participating in U.S. politics is neither possible nor even acceptable, but having an opportunity to vote in the U.S. presidential elections would mean that they could at least have some say in electing the person whose policies will so deeply impact their lives and the life of their country.
A more pressing concern for these friends, however, was whether or not the American people really understand how U.S. policy not only often destroys local economies, but also interferes and even manipulates democratic struggles in developing nations. I assured them that Americans have access to a tremendous amount of information through the media which (even though not as free as we Americans like to believe) does provide sufficient information on these issues. Americans also have access to many independent and foreign media sources with their satellite dishes and the internet.
There is, I asserted, no reason for the people of America not to know how their government’s policies either help or hurt other people, especially the marginalized of the world. Yes, they agreed, Americans should have considerable knowledge about the world, but do they really care?
Their comment startled me and I was reminded of a quote saw recently, credited to the French philosopher Manco: “I don’t care how much you know, unless first I know how much you care.”
Do we care enough about the rest of the world to understand their lives and struggles and how our own lives are intertwined with theirs? Do we take time to understand how a presidential contender’s proposed policies affect not only our lives, but also the lives of the poor and marginalized of the world? Would knowing this make a difference in who we vote for?
We can rebuild the reputation of the United States as a caring and compassionate nation not just by increasing our knowledge of the world but, more importantly, by caring enough to try and see how our lives and the life of our country affect others. This should be an important part of our process in electing a leader for our country this coming year.
Agenda for 2006 Today’s Editorial The Morung Express
As Nagaland forays into another New Year there is countless number of challenges to be addressed on the socio-economic front while the unresolved Naga political problem puts a serious question mark on the efficacy of the eight and a half year old ceasefire signed between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM). A ‘peaceful’ ‘negotiated’ ‘settlement’ ‘acceptable to all sections of the people’ needs the urgent attention of all concerned including New Delhi. While the peace process currently underway aims at bringing about a political solution, a simultaneous process of converging all shades of political opinion into a common forum must also be taken up in all seriousness at the highest level both by the State government and the mass based Naga civil society groups.
On the socio-economic front while people in general have to some extent enjoyed the fruits of development but much more still needs to be done. For a developed Nagaland to become a reality the political leadership in partnership with other stakeholders must work out a holistic approach to development while addressing a wide range of issues. In particular, the development of infrastructure in the realm of roads, power and communication should remain a high priority agenda. Another pertinent area that needs continuous attention is the tourism sector as it has enormous scope for generating wealth and employment for the local economy. Besides, education and health care development will remain a constant challenge that must be addressed if people are to remain both physically healthy and economically productive.
The threat posed by HIV/AIDS and the seriousness of the local situation is a clear warning deserving the utmost political attention. The countless number of declarations adopted and signed needs to be translated into an action that embraces and empowers people and institution to collectively and cohesively work together. In Nagaland, the much talked about ‘Legislative Forum headed by the Chief Minister’ is already in existence since August 2003. Formation of an important forum like this is effective only when it is functional in the real sense and proactive in its commitment. The Forum must make sure that the funds are reaching the people on the ground and are best used.
Drawing up an agenda for the year ahead will remain incomplete if the need for promoting good governance and tackling corruption is not included. Both issues are closely related and needs to be addressed in a meaningful manner. The Right to Information Act (RTI) which came into force throughout the country recently if sincerely implemented will put transparency and accountability into the governing system while making the administration more effective and at the same time responsive. The government will do well to put the necessary mechanism in place so that the public are truly empowered to bring about transparency and accountability in the administration by transforming the people themselves as watchdogs of the administration.
Both Fiscal and work discipline is another area that needs to remain a focal point. For this, the State has to rationalize manpower, reduce non- plan revenue expenditure, etc. At the same time, tax revenue collection and other resource mobilization has to improve a great deal to bridge the yawning gap between revenue and expenditure. Further, since a major part of the State resources is being drained out owing to salary payment of government employees as also the burden of overstaffing, the three corrective measures announced by the Chief Minister earlier—ban on creation of new posts, inter-departmental transfer of existing manpower, Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS)—should be implemented both in letter and spirit rather than remaining a mere paper exercise. The decision of the Nagaland Government to declare all Saturdays of the months as Regular Holidays with effect from January 1, 2006 will no doubt bring cheer to the government employees. But how much it will impact on the productivity or otherwise of the work output remains to be seen. The government on its part should now strictly implement the decision to enforce the concept of ‘No Work No Pay’.
The public grievance raised at different times from various quarters over the violation of ceasefire ground rules by the different Naga Underground Groups is a genuine one and needs immediate attention from the concerned factions, civil society, church, state agencies and security forces. The State government would have to take its own set of initiative so that the security of its citizen is not compromised under any circumstance. To sum up, the broad agenda that needs to be addressed over the next 12 months include a mixture of political, administrative and economic management of the high priority areas mentioned. The success of the government may very well depend on the success of this agenda.
Uzbek soldiers being trained in CIJW By A Staff Reporter Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, Jan 2 – After the US and Mongolian soldiers, it is now the turn of troops of the Uzbekistan Army to train under the specialised instructional staff at the Counter-Insurgency and Jungle Warfare (CIJW) School at Vairengte in Mizoram. Some 30 Uzbek soldiers, including three officers, are arriving at the CIJW School today for specialised training till January 14, a defence spokesman informed.

Two delegations of officers from Israel and Britain are also expected to witness the training of the Uzbek soldiers from January 11 to 13. The delegations would be in Mizoram to see the training facilities, training infrastructure and the methodology of the CIJW School. Mizoram Governor AR Kohli and Assam Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Ajai Singh are also expected to be present at that time.

The CIJW School was set up in 1970 to train Indian soldiers engaged in operations against insurgents. The school is now considered one of the world’s finest counter terrorism training institutions.
The 12 innovative firing ranges at the School, the training facilities and infrastructure, the realistic and practical oriented training programmes, vast experience of the trainers in fighting insurgents and terrorists and the unique training areas are some of the few attractions that the foreign armies find special. Brigadier Rakesh Sharma currently heads the CIJW School. The CIJW School has formulated a compendium of detailed and comprehensive strategy to combat terrorists titled “Combating Today’s War.” The process of evolution of this end product has gone through a pertinacious research.

The book has been carefully designed to provide answers to most questions frequently asked by security personnel engaged in combating terrorism. The book will serve as an invaluable guide for the security forces engaged in fighting terrorism at various levels, the spokesman added.

The political economy of corruption — Akhil Ranjan Dutta
Recently I met an Assamese origin scholar, Dr Amrit Baruah, who taught in a few leading Universities in the US including in the famous Yale University. Dr Baruah, who happens to be the elder brother of Ishan Baruah, a renowned cultural personality in Assam, was shocked to see all-round erosion of social and moral ethics in almost all walks of social life, particularly in the public offices in this part of the country. Dr Baruah has been exploring the real impact of globalisation and the so-called boom in technological revolution in this part of the world. Corruption has been an important issue that he has been looking at closely and is trying to know the real causes behind. What he suggested is that corruption has not been unknown to the people of this region. However, the way corruption has penetrated into all walks of life and the way it emerged today both as a way of life and also as a status symbol – because when you donate in lakhs to a Puja Committee or Bihu Committee your status automatically goes up and the lakhs that you donate are mostly black money than honest earning – is a new phenomenon. Donating the illegal earnings for a noble cause in a way is a means of legitimizing the illegitimate, wich, of course was quite unknown to Dr Baruah. He was narrating a small incident. A person went to an office many times to meet an official and found the official to be absent all the time. So, he enquired about his residence phone number to a clerk or a peon. The clerk or the peon agreed to provide the phone number but asked for money for tea. Taking it in literal sense the person offered five rupees. The peon/ clerk refused to accept calling it too low. Dr Baruah asked whether it is a mark of erosion of ethics/ morality in public offices or there are other issues involved in this whole phenomenon. I suggested that there are other structural causes behind this phenomenon i.e. there is a political economy of corruption and the ethical-moral approach neither can explain nor can prevent corruption.

Corruption is very much a part and parcel of an unequal society marked by no restriction on accumulation of commodities/ property; absence of public distribution of essential services like health care, education, electricity, transportation, water etc. either freely or at minimal cost; unwarranted competition and commodification in every walk of life intensified by the market forces today etc. There are more causes but the roots could be traced back to these structural factors.

In India or in other places of the world, high officials are more corrupt than the subordinate. Why? Because, there is no limit/ social control on accumulation. If there can be Bill Gates’ Empire accumulating wealth proportionate to the total GDPs of a number of countries; if there can be Reliance empire or empires of Tata and Bajaj, then every body has got legitimate right to dream for an empire of wealth. But this legitimate desire/ dream could not be achieved through legitimate means all the time. And here enters the illegitimate means of accumulation and corruption is a part of this legitimate dream achieved by illegitimate means.

The common people are forced more than the high officials to go in for corruption, although in small scale. Why? As we have witnessed in the recent past, all essential services have become very costly. Look at the health care expenditure. The public health care system has virtually collapsed and the private health care system is in consolidation. There is no comprehensive health insurance in a society like India – and some or the other form of health insurance schemes cover only around 11% of the total population in India. So, the health care expenditure is mostly out of pocket expenditure. This out of pocket expenditure is very high today. One has to pay consultancy fee for every visit, the cost of medicine is increasing due to amendments to drug policies and patent laws; there has been unnecessary prescription of medicines emanating from unethical network between the doctors and drug distributors; unnecessary tests and so on and so forth. Can a clerk or a peon afford these expenditures with his/ her meagre earning? Forget about a clerk. In the recent past a few of my colleagues from the University were admitted into private hospitals in Guwahati. One among them was taken outside the State for further treatment. All of them borrowed heavily so as to meet the expenses. Now, a substantive portion of their income will go as loan repayment. The medical insurances covered only a little portion of their expenses. What I mean to suggest is that even the upper middle class today is not in a position to meet the essential expenses.

What about schooling? The public school system has also virtually collapsed due to the negligence on the part of the State. The negligence might also be a conspiracy so as to facilitate the penetration of private forces in education sector. Whatever it might be, the so-called quality education has become really very expensive.

Now, who are admitting their children in those expensive schools? May be contractors, businessmen and high officials. It could be assumed that honest earning will not be enough to afford the expenses in those schools. This has opened up floodgates of illegitimate necessity of earning more i.e. indulging in corruption.

The wave of consumerism and commodification has added new magnitude to this whole problem. With the penetration of mass media into everybody’s household, particularly of the upper and lower middle classes, the whole world of consumer items are being shown at every moment creating unmanageable or unaffordable demands for every household/ individual. One is really in a state of confusion what to be bought and what to be left out. But, the market forces are constantly forcing us to run after this and that commodity. Every single item is becoming a status symbol. For example, the mobile. The notion of connectivity has been presented in a way that thinking of a life without a mobile is really an outdated one. One rickshaw puller was telling me that his son was demanding a mobile because he (the son) has seen the neighbouring children talking through mobile. What a person will do in such a situation? Surrender as defeated? No, only the extremely poor like a rickshaw puller will do that. Others will go in for extra income. And this extra income will invite corruption. So, we are living in a corruption prone society. Without structural transformation of the current situation marked by the tendencies cited above, an ethical or moral approach will not bring any substantive change to this whole situation.

(The author teaches Political Science at Gauhati University)