Imphal: The 3rd session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly commenced today with an address from Governor La Ganesan, who highlighted the activities and achievements of the government in the past year. The session will continue till February 3, 2023.
Addressing the House, Governor Ganesan said that the government had continued to strengthen and improve the situation in the state. During 2022, 75 insurgents surrendered, 309 extremists were arrested, and various arms, ammunition, etc. were recovered.
To root out the menace of illegal drugs and to protect the youth and the fight against the War on Drugs during 2022, 3517 acres of illicit poppy cultivation were destroyed in different areas of the state, along with 2567 kg of contraband drugs. Over 2,384 kg of drugs, consisting of heroin, brown sugar, opium, amphetamine, ganja, methamphetamine, spasmoproxivon, and nearly 40,000 bottles of cough syrup, were seized. 504 cases were registered under the ND&PS Act, and 32 persons were convicted. 84 people were detained under the PIT and NDPS Acts.
In the healthcare sector, more than three lakh people in over 870 villages have been screened for ten noncommunicable diseases through door-to-door screening under the Chief Minister’s Health for All program. 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 the CM Hakshelgi Tengbang Scheme. Over 1.30 lakh patients have benefited so far, with treatment costs totaling Rs. 148.9 crores covered by the scheme.
To overcome the lack of healthcare personnel, the government has also initiated the process for the 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 the North East Special Infrastructure Development Schemes, 18 projects worth over Rs. 394 crore were sanctioned in the sectors of water supply, health, and roads. For promoting tourism, the Water Supply Distribution Network for Churachandpur and the Augmentation of the 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-matriculatory scholarships and Pre-matric ST scholarships for an amount of Rs. 54 crore.
Under the National Food Security Act, the Governor also informed the House that the beneficiaries have been fully digitised in the public portal, all fair price shops in the state have been automated, and the ration cards have been Aadhaar seeded. 2,00,658 beneficiaries have benefited from free LPG connections under Ujjwala 1.0 and Ujjwala 2.0.
He further stated that under the ‘School Fagathansi Mission’, 120 high and higher secondary schools have been covered. In phase I, student enrollment increased by more than 30% from the 2019 to the 2022 academic sessions. An increase of 5.98% was recorded in Phase-ll. To address other gaps under this mission, 10,630 pairs of dual desks and benches were provided; 106 new classrooms, 98 new toilets, and 32 science laboratories and libraries were constructed, and 687 classrooms were repaired. In addition, free physical classroom coaching for 200 civil service aspirants has begun under the Chief Minister’s Scholarship Scheme for Civil Service Coaching.
The governor further informed the House that to improve the quality, reliability, and affordability of power supply, the REC Limited has been sanctioned for the implementation of the 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 the PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana—Per Drop More Crop—financial assistance through direct benefit transfer was provided to 5,043 individual small and marginal farmers for 5,043 sprinkler sets with water pump sets. Financial assistance for the construction of 161 water harvesting structures, 49 check dams, and 10 irrigation channels was provided to 220 farmers, creating an irrigation potential of 338 hectares.
Manipur Organic Mission Agency was awarded Second Prize in the Jaivik India Award, 2022, in the Government Category. In addition, the MOMA-sponsored Chak-Hao Porieton Farmer Producer Company, Imphal West, was awarded Second Prize in the FPC category.
In order to reconcile records between the Forest and Revenue Departments, a joint survey of eleven reserve forests and seven protected forests has been completed. Last year, 77 encroachers were evicted from various reserved and protected forests. He said that for curbing unauthorised and illegal transportation of timber, and checking illegal encroachment and other forest products, 100 guns were procured and 49 personnel were trained.
To enhance fish production and productivity, under the PM Matsya Sampada Yojana, 442 hectares of new ponds, 100 units of cage, 20 units of Bio-Floc, and 8 units of hatcheries have been developed during 2022–23, providing benefits to 1,563 fish farmers. Under the Group Accidental Insurance Scheme, 2,383 fish farmers were also insured for the years 2022–2033.
For the first time, an indigenous cow fair was organised in Bishnupur District, and more such fairs will be organised in the near future, according to the governor.
To develop irrigation facilities in the state of Manipur, eight major and medium irrigation projects were taken up. Out of these, seven projects with a total cost of over Rs. 1,013 crore for creating a revised irrigation potential of 82,753 hectares 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 the underwater supply and sanitation programme Jal Jeevan Mission Manipur is ranked 11th at the national level and first among North Eastern States in coverage of functional household tap connections. Out of 2,555 total villages, the state has declared 412 Har Ghar Jal villages.
The Governor also informed the August House that the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has conveyed approval for four road works with a total cost of Rs. 3,045 crore in the approved annual plan for 2022–23. It includes a project for the “Construction of a 25-kilometer-long 4-lane elevated highway.”The construction of the double-lane Sawombung Bridge has been completed. Restoration and rehabilitation of Sansak-Tengnoupal on NH-102A, with a length of 202 km and a contract cost of Rs. 136.33 crore, have 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. In the PMAY (U) Award 2021, Manipur was awarded the “Special Award of Recognition to the State with the Best Visibility and Coverage of PMAY (U),” and Jiribam, Municipal Council bagged the third position in “Best Performing Municipal Council” in the NER and Hilly States Category.
For providing employment under MGNREGA, the average number of days of employment provided for FY2021-23 exceeded the national average by 6.39 days. To bring greater transparency, payments of wages, materials, and administrative expenses are made 100% through the banks. Manipur has also been able to achieve 76.76% expenditure on natural resources management compared to the national average of 66.40%. As part of 75 years of India’s independence, 75 Amrit Sarovar are being created in each district by August 15, 2023.
Thoubal District won the 2nd position in the “Best performing district” category under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan in India. 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 Sunusi Phai, Bishnupur District. One dedicated drug treatment centre for transgender people through PPP mode and two dedicated children’s homes for transgender people through NGOs were established as the first of their kind in the country.
A mega job fair was organised under the Labor Welfare Employment Generation and Entrepreneurship Department, with the participation of 40 private job providers, and over 9,000 job seekers attended the job fair. Skill development programmes 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 has 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 the Geographical Indication of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999. A memorandum of understanding was signed with Amazon under the name “Amazon Karigar to sell Manipur handloom and handicraft products on the Amazon platform. The e-catalogue of handloom and handicraft products was also launched by Manipur Handloom and Handicrafts Development Corporation Ltd.
Shri La Ganesan further informed the House that after a gap of 2 years, the biggest edition of the 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. The 4th State Level Shirui Lily Festival, the 3rd State Level Barak Festival, and the Orange Festival were also organised after the COVID pandemic. Megatourism projects such as the INA Headquarters at Moirang, the Sangai Ethnic Park at Moirang Khunou, the Development of Cave Tourism Project at Kangkhui Cave at Ukhrul, and the Sagol Kangjei Statue at Heingang, which is the tallest polo statue in the world, were completed and inaugurated. The Union Home Minister hoisted the 165-foot-high National Flag at the Indian National Army (INA) Headquarters in Moirang, which measures 30 by 40 feet.
Manipur Olympic Park at Sangaithel was also inaugurated and dedicated to the public. Manipur also hosted the Lmphal Chapter of the Durand Cup, 2022, the 25th State Level Youth Festival, and the 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, the immortal fire, and different historical monuments in and around Andro was completed. The statue of Maharaj Narasingh at the western gate of Kangla Fort and the restored statue of Maharaj Bhagyachandrana Shamu Phaba were unveiled. Chivu Chandrakirti Memorial Park in the Churachandpur district was also inaugurated. Makhel’s development of a protected historical site was also completed. A foundation stone was laid for the Manipur Southern Cultural Centre at Behiang.
Under the 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 the joyful participation of the masses.
Under Relief and Disaster Management, the National Seismic Risk Mitigation Program is being implemented to reduce the vulnerability of communities and their assets to natural disasters. The allocation of land for the establishment of one regional response centre and a technical demonstration unit for the National Disaster Response Force has been completed.
To bring transparency to the recruitment process under the Administrative Reforms Act, the Manipur Staff Selection Commission Act of 22 was also notified to establish the Manipur Staff Selection Commission with the mandate to make recruitments in subordinate services.
Towards developing an lT industry in Manipur, an lT SEZ is being set up on over 10.85 hectares of contiguous land at Mantripukhri, equally divided into a processing zone and a non-processing zone.
A district science centre and planetarium at Churachandpur and Ukhrul districts, at a total cost of Rs. 15.87 crore, is targeted for completion during 2023 under the Science and Technology Department.
Under the Sericulture Department, Silk Samagra-II, four projects worth Rs. 95.70 crore were approved for implementation and were 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 the family pension to Rs. 5,000 from Rs. 2000 under the Manipur Working Journalist Pension Scheme. The digitisation of rare and old photographs and videos currently stored in the Directorate of IPR Archives has also begun.
Computerization of land records under the 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’s 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, the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Department registered 11 FIR cases. 67 preliminary inquiry 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 improve transparency and service delivery.
The motion of thanks to the governor’s address was moved by Health & IPR Minister Dr. Sapam Ranjan Singh and seconded by Minister Awangbow Newmai.
An obituary reference was conducted on the demise of the seven former members and two former secretaries of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, namely M. Ibohal Singh of Sagolmang Assembly 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 State Legislature
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. The demise of the prominent personalities has not only left a void in the political sphere of the state but also caused a great loss to 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 for 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, the Leader of the House, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, presented the third report of the Business Advisory Committee 2023, and the House also moved and agreed with the allocation of time proposed by the Committee. Minister Shri Y. Khemchand Singh, Chairman of the Select Committee on the Manipur Panchayati Raj (Eighth Amendment) Bill
