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| wise words ::. | | What is the difference between genius and stupidity? Genius has limits. - Albert Einstein. |
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| editorial. | 03/10/02 |
A chokeful of associations
Though the exact number of associations in the state cannot be ascertained offhand, associations within the state, if written down, would occupy quite a number of A4 pages, written on both sides. At one point in time, there even used to be associations called "The Poor Association" and the "Landless (non-home owners) Association". A joke that used to circulate was if three or four Mizos meet together, they start an association.
However, the reasons behind the formation of associations have to be examined before they can be criticised. The primary reason behind the formation of associations is the government's red tapeism and its apathetic attitude towards individual's rights and grievances. The secondary reason can be assigned to the human nature of wanting to be important.
In developed countries, where an individual's rights are respected as much as the rights of collective individuals, associations, federations and unions are few and far between. Therefore, the countless associations in the state shows the lack of respect being shown by the authorities to individuals necessitating in the formation of associations, which, in the view of the government, is more important and more powerful.
While it may be correct to have this assumption and posture by the government, it must be argued that if the government gave as much attention to individuals as it does associations, the need to form associations would not arise.
In another sense, the many associations within the state reflects the government's attitude towards human and fundamental rights that a citizen enjoys. It shows that the government shows little respect for an individual's rights, or the welfare of its citizens as individuals.
It could be argued that the government cannot deal with each and every individual's grievances. However, a counter argument for this is if a farmer�s grievance over lack of seeds is addressed, then all farmers grievance would be addressed. It must be remembered that associations are formed by a certain section of the people which would deal exclusively with their problems and welfare.
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