House passes motion of thanks on Governor's address
Biren assures white paper on financial position
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, February 17 2020: The 11th Manipur Legislative Assembly passed a motion of thanks to the Governor's address on the second day of its 10th Session today.

The discussion on the motion of thanks to the Governor's address was moved by P Saratchandra Singh and seconded by MLA Awangbow Newmai.

Meanwhile, during the general discussion on budget estimates, Chief Minister N Biren Singh assured the House that the State Government would work to produce a white paper on the financial position of the State during the last five years.

The Chief Minister made this assurance in response to a query raised by MLA K Meghachandra.

Chief Minister N Biren Singh assured the House

K Meghachandra said that the budget estimates 2020-21 is directionless and devoid of focus areas apart from being anti-women.

The budgetary allocations for sports and tourism are too little and the budget as a whole is disappointing, Meghachandra remarked.

Biren stated that the Government has created a corpus fund of Rs 200 crore to be utilized by all departments for State's matching shares of Centrally sponsored schemes on priority basis.

Biren who is also in charge of Finance, said the Government is aware that the budget 2020-21 is a deficit budget however, it is an innovative as well as an inclusive budget.

The budget is for all public in the State regardless of gender, religion, among others, he added.

The leader of the House said that the budget has been prepared keeping in mind the requirements of the various Govt departments.

He said that the budget is not anti-women as the Government has been taking up certain steps towards women empowerment and has already opened a fast track Court for speedy disposal of cases of crimes against women.

He said the Government is also in the process of setting up additional fast track Courts.

He continued that most developmental works implemented in the State are through Centrally sponsored schemes with a defined State matching share.

Now, the State Government has created a corpus fund through which the Government will provide its matching shares of these schemes on priority basis.

The Chief Minister also placed before the House that the State's Ways and Means Borrowing capacity has been increased.

Development of sports infrastructure has been going on.

Preparations are on to develop two tourist spots in the State as part of the North East tourist circuit, Biren said.

After Kh Joykisan pointed out that there are certain errors in the demand for Art and Culture, Biren said that the errors have been noted and rectified accordingly.

Kh Joykisan pointed out that the clause "Assistance to Manipuris living outside the State including Jiribam for development of cultural activities", as mentioned in the demand for Art and Culture is quite misleading as it projects Jiribam as a separate entity.

Biren also introduced the Manipur Appropriation (No.1) Bill, 2020 .

Before introducing the Bill, he also inserted an errata stating "In the Manipur Appropriation (No.1) Bill, 2020, the figure on page 4 of Demand No 40 of Water Resources Department may be read as Rs 37,74,77,000 instead of Rs 34,74,77,000" .