Guv highlights Govt’s feats, activities in past year
Imphal: (DIPR): The 3rd session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly commenced on Thursday with an address from Governor La Ganesan who highlighted the activities and achievements of the government in the past year. The session will continue for till February 3.
Addressing the House, Governor Ganesan said that the government had continued to strengthen and improve the scenario in the State. During 2022, 75 insurgents surrendered, 309 extremists were arrested and various arms, ammunitions etc. were recovered.
To root out the menace of illegal drugs and to protect the youths and the fights against the War on Drugs during 2022, 3517 acres of illicit poppy cultivation were destroyed in different areas of the state and 2567 kg of contraband drugs. Over 2,384 kg. of drugs consisting of Heroin, Brown Sugar, Opium, Amphetamine, Ganja, Methamphetamine, Spasmo Proxyvon and nearly 40,000 bottles of Cough Syrup were seized. 504 cases were registered under ND&PS Act and 32 persons were convicted. 84 persons were detained under PIT NDPS Act.
Pertaining to the Healthcare sector under Chief Minister’s Health for All program, more than 3 lakh persons in over 870 villages have been screened for ten non-communicable diseases through door-to-door screening.
The insurance cost available for each enrolled family under CMHT has been enhanced from Rs. 2 lakh to Rs. 5 lakh per annum. A total of over 2.04 lakh families with 6.73 lakh beneficiaries have been enrolled under CM Hakshelgi Tengbang Scheme. Over 1.30 lakh patients have benefited till date with their treatment cost of Rs. 148.9 crore borne under the scheme’.
To overcome lack of healthcare personnel, the government has also initiated the process for recruitment of 300 Medical Officers through MPSC and another 200 Medical officers and 300 Staff Nurses are also being contractually engaged.
In financial matters under North East Special Infrastructure Development schemes, 18 projects worth over Rs. 394 crores were sanctioned in the sectors of Water Supply, Health and Roads. For promoting Tourism, Water Supply Distribution Network for Churachandpur and Augmentation of Senapati District Head Quarter water Supply Scheme at costs of Rs.20 crore and Rs.30 crore respectively have been completed.
Further, the Governor added that in order to support and provide quality education to poor tribal students, three Eklavya Model Residential Schools are being established at Sapermeina, Moreh and Tamenglong. And during 2022-23, 50,376 ST students were provided ST Post-Matric scholarship and Pre-matric ST scholarship for amount of Rs. 54 crore.
Under National Food Security Act, the Governor also informed the House that the beneficiaries have been fully digitised in the public portal and all Fair Price Shops in the State have been automated and the Ration Cards have been Aadhaar seeded. 2,00,658 beneficiaries have benefited through free LPG connection under Ujjwala 1.0 and Ujjwala 2.0.
He further stated that under ‘School Fagathansi Mission’, 120 High and Higher Secondary Schools, have been covered. Student enrolment increased by over 30 pc from 2019 to 2022 academic sessions in phase-I. An increase of 5.98 pc was recorded in Phase-ll. To address other gaps under this mission, 10,630 pairs of dual desk and benches were provided; 106 new classrooms, 98 new toilets and 32 Science Laboratories and Libraries were constructed, and 687 classrooms repaired. Also in order to assist the Civil Service aspirants, Free Physical Class Room coaching has been started for 200 aspirants under the Chief Minister’s Scholarship Scheme for Civil Services Coaching.
The Governor further informed the House that to improve the quality, reliability and affordability of power supply, the REC Limited has sanctioned for implementation of Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme, Manipur amounting to Rs. 520.61 crore, with Gross Budgetary Support of Rs. 398.67 crore.
In his address, the Governor stated that under PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana – Per Drop More crop, financial assistance through direct benefit transfer were provided to 5,043 individual small and marginal farmers for 5,043 sprinkler sets with water pumpset. Financial assistance for construction of 161 water harvesting structures, 49 Check Dams and 10 irrigation channels were provided to 220 farmers creating irrigation potential of 338 hectare.
Manipur Organic Mission Agency was awarded Second Prize in Jaivik lndia Award, 2022 in Govemment Category. In addition, Chak-Hao Porieton Farmer Producer Company, lmphal West, promoted by MOMA was also awarded Second Prize in FPC category.
In order to reconcile records between Forest and Revenue Department, Joint Survey of 11 Reserve Forests and 7 Protected Forests have been completed. Last year, 77 encroachers were evicted from various Reserved and Protected Forests. For curbing unauthorized and illegal transportation of timber, checking of illegal encroachment and other forest products, 100 guns was procured and 49 personnel trained, he informed.
To enhance fish production and productivity, under PM Matsya Sampada Yojana, 142 hectare of new ponds, 100 units of cage, 20 units of Bio floc, 8 units of hatcheries and input support for 220 hectare have been developed during 2022-23 providing benefits to 1,563 fish farmers. Under Group Accidental Insurance Scheme, 2,383 fish farmers were also insured for the year 2022-23.
For the first time, Indigenous Cow Mela was organised in Bishnupur District and such more such Cow Melas will be organised in the near future, added the Governor.
To develop irrigation facilities in the state of Manipur, eight major and medium irrigation projects were taken up. Out of these, 7 projects with a total cost of over Rs.1,013 crore for creating a revised irrigation potential of 82,753 hectare for providing water supply of 9 Million Gallons per Day with 2.25 MW of Power were completed and 1 partially completed.
Continuing his address, he stated that under water supply and sanitation programme Jal Jeevan Mission Manipur is 11th Rank at National level and 1st Rank among North Eastern States in coverage of functional household tap connections. Out of 2,555 total villages, state has declared 412 Har Ghar Jal villages.
The Governor also informed the August House that Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has conveyed approval of 4 road works with a total cost of Rs. 3,045 crore in the approved Annual Plan of 2022-23. lt includes project for “Construction of 4 Lane Elevated Highways Project for a length of 25 Km. The construction of double lane Sawombung Bridge has been completed. Restoration and Rehabilitation of Sansak-Tengnoupal on NH-102A with a length of 202 km. at a contract cost of Rs. 136.33 crore has been completed.
Under the PMAY (Urban), 55,804 houses have been sanctioned. 10,401 houses are completed and another 34,603 houses are in different stages of construction. ln PMAY(U)Award 2021, Manipur was awarded “Special Award of recognition to State with Best Visibility and Coverage of PMAY (U),” Jiribam, Municipal council bagged Third position in “Best Performing Municipal Council,” in NER and Hilly States Category.
For providing employment under MGNREGS, the average of days of employment provided for 202l-22 exceeded the national average by 6.39 days and also to bring greater transparency, payments of wages, material and administrative expenses are paid 100 pc through Banks.
Manipur has also been able to achieve 76.76 pc expenditure in Natural Resources Management compared to national average of 66.40 pc. As part of 75 years of lndia’s lndependence,75 Amrit Sarovar are being created in each district by August 15, 2023.
Thoubal District won 2nd position in Best performing District category under Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan in lndia. A state specific guideline for registration and monitoring of private de-addiction centres was also framed. A state-run drug de-addiction centre with a capacity of 50 inmates was established at Sunusiphai, Bishnupur District. As a first of its kind in the country one dedicated drug deaddiction centre for transgender through PPP mode and two dedicated children homes for transgender through NGOs were started.
Under the Labour Welfare Employment Generation and Entrepreneurship Department, a Mega Job Fair was organised with participation of 40 private job providers and more than 9,000 job-seekers attended the Job Fair. Skill development programs were also imparted under PMKVY 2.0. Under PMKVY 3.0, Short Term Training was also provided to 677 trainees. Recognition of Prior Learning in different courses have also been accorded to 2,571 beneficiaries.
The Governor also stated that the government is also taking initiatives to register Kouna Craft, Senga, Lik-Kol and more handloom and handicraft products of Manipur under Geographical Indication of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999. An MoU was signed with Amazon under Amazon Karigar to sell handloom and handicraft products of Manipur through Amazon portal. The e-catalogue of handloom and handicraft products was also launched by Manipur Handloom and Handicrafts Development Corporation Ltd.
La Ganesan further informed the House that after a gap of two years, the biggest edition of Manipur Sangai Festival till date was organised at 13 venues for the first time under the theme of ‘Festival of Oneness’. The festival was celebrated across the state from Mao in the north to Behiang in the south. 4th State Level Shirui Lily Festival, 3rd State Level Barak Festival and Orange Festival were also organized after the Covid Pandemic. Mega tourism projects such as INA Headquarters at Moirang, Sangai Ethnic Park at Moirang Khunou, Development of Cave Tourism project at Kangkhui Cave at Ukhrul, and Sagol Kangjei Statue at Heingang, which is the tallest polo statue in the world, were completed and inaugurated. The 165 feet high National Flag, at lndian National Army (lNA) Headquarters at Moirang, measuring 30×40 feet was hoisted by the Union Home Minister.
Manipur Olympic Park at Sangaithel was also inaugurated and dedicated to the public. Manipur also hosted lmphal Chapter of the Durand Cup, 2022, 25th State Level Youth Festival and North East Regional Sports Week in the State.
Kangla Nongpok Thong which is believed to be the Gateway to Peace and Prosperity for the State, was dedicated to the public. Work to preserve Panam Ningthou lmmortal Fire and different Historical Monuments in and around Andro were completed. Statue of Maharaj Narasingh at western Gate of Kangla Fort and restored statue of Maharaj Bhagyachandrana Shamu Phaba were unveiled. Chivu Chandrakirti Memorial park in Churachandpur district was also inaugurated. Development works of protected historical site at Makhel was also completed. And Foundation stone was laid for Manipur Southern Cultural Centre at Behiang.
Under initiative of ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ as part of, ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ more than 5 lakh national flags were also procured and distributed to households, offices, public buildings and private institutions. Last year, Independence Day 2022 succeeded in bringing out the nationalism in each one of us, through joyful participation of the masses.
Under the Relief & Disaster Management the National Seismic Risk Mitigation Programme is being implemented to reduce the vulnerability of communities and their assets to natural disaster. Allotment of land for setting up of one Regional Response Centre of National Disaster Response Force and setting of technical demonstration unit has been finalized.
To bring transparency in the recruitment process under the Administrative Reforms the Manipur Staff Selection Commission Act, 2O22 was also notified to establish Manipur Staff Selection Commission with the mandate to make recruitments in subordinate services.
Towards developing an lT industry in Manipur, lT SEZ is being set upon over 10.85 hectare of contiguous land at Mantripukhri, equally divided into Processing Zone and Non-Processing Zone.
District Science Centre and Planetarium at Churachandpur and Ukhrul District at a total cost of Rs. 15.87 crore is targeted for completion during 2023 under the Science and Technology Department.
Under Sericulture department Silk Samagra-II, 4 projects worth Rs. 95.70 crore was approved for implementation and expected to provide meaningful employment to more than 3,000 beneficiaries.
Monthly pensions for journalists were increased to Rs. 8,000 from Rs. 4,000 and family pension to Rs. 5,000 from Rs. 2000 under the Manipur Working Journalist Pension Scheme.
Digitisation of rare and old photographs and videos currently stored in the Archives of Directorate of IPR have also been initiated.
Computerisation of land records under Revenue Department was implemented in 507 revenue villages. Landowners can now download their Jamabandi Pattas at the click of a button.
Under the Cooperation Department Centrally Sponsored Project for “Computerization of Primary Agricultural Credit Cooperative Societies”, 232 working Primary Agricultural Credit Cooperative Societies have been identified for implementing the project at a total cost of Rs. 907.12 lakh.
During the current year, Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Department registered 11 FIR cases. 67 Preliminary Enquiry and Verification cases were registered during the year. ‘Online Vigilance Certificate Portal’ was launched to enable departments to obtain online Vigilance Clearance, required at the time of retirement, promotion, awards, etc. and thus improving transparency and service delivery.
Motion of thanks to the Governor’s Address was moved by Health & IPR Minister Dr. Sapam Ranjan Singh and seconded by Minister Awangbow Newmai.
Obituary reference was conducted on the demise of the seven former members and two former Secrateries of the Manipur Legislative Assembly namely M. Ibohal Singh of Sagolmang Asembly Constituency, Ibomcha Sapam of 34 – Wangjing Tentha A/C, Th. Bira Singh of 24 – Nambol A/C, E. Biramani Singh of 38-Hyanglam A/C, Chandam Manihar Singh of 03-Khurai A/C, I.S Laishram, former Secretary of the Manipur Legislative Assembly and R.K Chinglensana Singh, former Secretary(technical) of the Manipur Legislative Assembly.
During the obituary reference, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said that losing the prominent members of the Assembly is a great loss for the state. Demise of the prominent personalities has not only left a void in the political sphere of the State but also a great loss to the society, he added.
Joining the obituary reference Opposition Leader Okram Ibobi Singh extended his profound grief and sorrow to the departed former members of the Manipur Legislative Assembly and the other two former Secretaries of the Assembly. Obituary references were shared by MLAs Th. Shanti Singh, Paonam Brojen Singh, Y. Radheshyam Singh and Th. Lokeshwar Singh. Minister L. Susindro Meitei also joined in the obituary reference of the departed Members and Secretaries. Speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly, Th. Satyabrata Singh moved a resolution of the House expressing grief and sorrow over the demise of the former members and a two-minute silence was observed by the House as a mark of respect to the departed souls.
Later, Leader of the House, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh presented third report of the Business Advisory Committee 2023 and also the House moved and agrees with the allocation of time proposed by the Committee. Minister Y. Khemchand Singh, Chairman of the Select Committee on the Manipur Panchayati Raj (Eight Amendment) Bill, 2022 presented the report of the Committee in the House.
