Speech presented by Chief Minister N. Biren Singh at the 66th NEC meeting held at New Delhi on 29 May 2017
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Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh 'Reception Ceremony' at Khwairamband Keithel on 9th April 2017 :: Pix - DIPR

Hon'ble Minister of DONER & Chairman of the North Eastern Council, Dr Jitendra Singhji, my Distinguished Colleagues & Members of the Council, Ladies and Gentlemen It is a privilege for me to participate in this 66th North Eastern Council Plenary meeting and for giving me this opportunity to share our views on the agenda items and discuss issues of our concerns.

I am also looking forward to an informative session on the action plan and strategy of line Ministries for faster development of North Eastern States. If there is any intervention and support required from my Government, we are committed to extend the same for a faster socio economic development of the State.

2. CONVERSION OF NEC SCHEMES TO CENTRAL SECTOR SCHEMES:

Sir, we are concerned that from the year 2017-18, all NEC projects and Ministry of DoNER programme having converted to Central Sector project, will now generally be implemented by Central Agencies. Funds will be released directly to State agencies through PFMS only with prior approval of Ministry of Finance till March 2020. We request Chairman Sir, to take up the issue with NITI Ayog and Ministry of Finance for restoration of NEC and NLCPR as Central Sponsored Scheme, so that State Agencies and Department may continue to implement the projects. You will agree with me that NEC and NLCPR have been a major support for bridging infrastructure gap in the North Eastern States.

Implementation through Central Agencies only after March 2020 is not desirable for the NER and state Agencies. Central Agencies may not be able to appreciate fully the socio-economic implication of such projects in the lives of the local people. State Departments like PWD and other agencies may be allowed to continue implementation of the NEC and NLCPR projects. We proposed that NEC and NLCPR schemes be considered as one of the core of CSS schemes, in the interest of people of the backward states of North Eastern Region of India. NITI Ayog's Restructuring Committee on CSS may be asked to re-look into our request in this regard.

3. ANNUAL PLAN FOR 2017-18

We support North Eastern Council's proposal of head wise Budget allocation of Rs.925.00 crores by giving thrust areas to Transport & Communication, Agriculture & Allied and Human Resource Management. Peoples aspirations and expectation from the new government of Manipur is tremendous and availability of fund is not much. However, we agree that there is need to give priority to completion of ongoing projects and take up new projects in core thrust areas of NEC in consultation with the State Governments. My State has already submitted priority list of projects for the Year 2017-18. We request NEC to select new projects from the State Priority List in consultation with State Government.

4. NORMATIVE ALLOCATION OF NEC BUDGET AMONGTHE NE STATES:

We agree that there should be equitable and transparent distribution of fund among member States. NEC proposal to provide 60% of the NEC Budget for funding projects from Annual Priority Lists and to provide 12% of this allocation for Manipur is supported. For the remaining 40% of the NEC Budget being reserved for regional projects, NEC may identify new inter-state projects after detailed consultation with all member States to avoid concentration of resources on one or few states only.

5. DRAFT REGIONAL PLAN OF NORTH EASTERN COUNCIL

I understand that NEC proposal of draft NEC Regional Plan is for three years(2017-18 to 2019-2020) for an amount of Rs7500 crores with Annual Plan of Rs. 2500 crores for 2017-18. Budgeted allocation for 2017-18 is Rs925 crores. We support NEC proposal to request Government of India for providing additional fund of Rs. 1500 crores each year from NLCPR accruals or provide one time grant to complete ongoing projects, so that new projects and programmes of the new Government could be taken up.

We support regional projects identified by NEC under NERSDS (North East Roads Sector Development Scheme) to be implemented by NHIDCL. We would like NEC to take up similar feasible inter-state roads, which connects Manipur with neighbouring states like Assam and Nagaland. Tamenglong- Tousem- Haflong Road, Tamei-Tenning Road are few NEC orphan roads in Manipur.

My State will be submitting revised proposal under NERSDS. With regards to construction of small foot bridges essential in remote hill areas, I am of the opinion that such small projects should be taken up under other programmes and NEC should focus on large scale infrastructure projects.

6. LIVELIHOOD PROJECTS:

Improving livelihoods for people of Manipur is also a priority area of my Government. Community based sustainable livelihood projects assisted by IFAD and implemented by North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Society has been successfully completed in Ukhrul and Senapati. I am informed that NERCORMP has transformed the lives of the rural women of villages covered under this project.

Based on the success of this project, expansion of this project is ongoing under Phase-III at Chandel and Churachandpur District with funding from NEC. I understand that NEC and M/ o DONER is now proposing to launch Phase-IV project with financial assistance from IFAD. We request M/DoNER to include Tamenglong and Imphal East Districts for upliftment of the poor and weaker section of our Society. I also appeal for clearance of this project.

7. SPORTS & YOUTH ACTIVITIES:

Sir, as you are aware Manipur and other North East States have produced numerous medal winning National and International players, who have brought glory and pride to the Country. Recognising the talent and potential of our youth, a Sports University is being set up in Manipur. We are deeply thankful to Hon'ble Prime Minister for this. We are readying to start the University at Khuman Lampak Sports Complex, till new complex is constructed. This will greatly improve our performance at National and international level and the NE State can produce prominent players in the years to come.

Here, I would like to draw your kind attention especially in the field of Football wherein the youths of the State and the North Eastern Region have shown great potential and talent.

I strongly feel the need for establishing a Regional Football Academy which will harness and groom the youth from the beginning to specialise in the field of football so that they become world class football players. The youth and players of this academy could be human resource of the University in the field of football in years to come. The funding could be from several sources under the existing schemes of Ministry of Sports & Youth Affairs, Central NLCPR. NEC could provide gap funding.

To be continued...