Governor's address to the State Assembly
Timely steps taken by Govt to fight COVID-19 opens address to House
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 03 2021: Welcoming the Members of the Assembly to the 12th session of the 11 th Manipur Legislative Assembly today, Governor DrNajma Heptulla today briefly recalled the activities of the State Government in 2020 and started it off with the Covid pandemic, the preparations taken by the State Government to take the fight to the virus and the emerging need for self reliance.

In her address to the Assembly on the first day of the Budget session, the Governor briefly talked on the COVID-19 pandemic, law and order and justice delivery, finance and planning, tribal affairs, minorities and SC and OBC welfare, food security, education, power sector, agriculture and allied activities and natural resources, pisciculture and animal husbandry, water resources and management, water supply, healthcare, connectivity (works and transport), urban planning and development, rural development, social welfare, labour welfare, employment generation and entrepreneurship, textiles, commerce and industries, tourism, information technology and science and technology, sports, art and culture, election, GAD, relief and disaster management.

Asserting that the Government has been working continuously for the welfare and inclusive development of the State, the Governor recalled that three days before the Nationwide lockdown was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24, the State Government closed down the Ima markets and temporary market on March 21, in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Elaborating on the steps taken up the State Government to take the battle to the virus, the Governor said that shortly after World Health Organisation announced the outbreak of Covid on January 9, 2020, the State Government started screening passengers at Imphal Airport on January 18, even though there are no international flights.

After WHO issued a global health emergency, the sixth time in history on January 31, the screening of incoming passengers started at Mao and Jiribam on the same day.

The border gates at Moreh, Tusom, Nambisha and Behiang were closed on March 10 just one day before WHO declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, the Governor recalled.

All schools and hostels were ordered to close on March 12, said the Governor and added classes in all Government and private institutions including universities were closed on March 13.After Manipur recorded her first positive case on March 23, one day before the Nationwide lockdown, the State Consultative Committee on COVID-19 headed by the Chief Minister was formed.

A COVID-19 Task Force headed by the Chief Secretary was set up.

Concerted efforts were undertaken by the Government with the setting up of Isolation Wards, Quarantine Centres, Covid Care Centres and Dedicated COVID-19 Treatment Blocks, Institutional (Government) Quarantine Centres, Community Quarantine Centres, Paid Quarantine Centres and Home Quarantine.

The Government made all out efforts to ensure that there was no shortage of essential supplies.

Under the Prime Minister Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, dal and additional rice were provided free of cost to beneficiaries under AAY and PHH households during the pandemic, said the Governor.

Altogether, about 4.77 lakh COVID tests were conducted and a total of about 5.23 lakh persons were screened.

SoP for new variant of SARCOV-II has already been published.

All individuals arriving were made to undergo mandatory quarantine.

Massive IEC/Media campaign was taken up.

to disseminate relevant information on COVID-19 among the public.

As on January 25, Manipur had recorded a total of 28,997 positive cases, 28,442 recoveries & 369 deaths and recovery rate of 98.08%.Chief Minister's COVID-19 Relief Fund was also launched which received a total donation of over Rs 24 crore, said the Governor and added that Government employees donated one day's salary to the Relief Fund.

Rs 25 lakh under MLA-LAD Scheme were earmarked for COVID-19 related activities in each Assembly Constituency.

The Government evacuated over 23,000 stranded people through 24 Shramik Trains.

Incentives at the rate of Rs 1000 and Rs 500 each and free ration were provided to Drivers and Handymen of trucks bringing various goods, oil tankers and LPG bullets.

During lockdown, 52,605 labour card holders were given financial assistance of Rs 1000/- each through DBT.

Over Rs 9 crore was released from State Disaster Relief Fund to combat the situation in the wake of the pandemic.

To help street vendors affected by the pandemic, under the Prime Minister's Street Vendor's Atma Nirbhar Nidhi Scheme, loans were disbursed to 3,799 street vendors which have earned the State No 1 ranking among Hilly Region and North Eastern States category for highest number of loans disbursed till date under the scheme.

Corpus fund of Rs 3 crore was created under "Market Intervention Scheme" for procuring surplus marketable produces to reduce distress sale during the pandemic.

As necessitated by the school lockdown due to COVID pandemic, digital and e-learning platforms were adopted.

The e-content is now available in a newly developed App called "Lairik".

COVID-19 vaccination for Manipur was taken up at 10 session sites, targeting over 9600 healthcare workers for the first day.

This vaccine had undergone the required 3 levels of human trials and has been proven in terms of both its efficacy and immunogenicity.

The vaccine has been declared safe, immunogenic and efficacious by the Drugs Controller General of India.

A total of 1,02,000 doses of Covishield vaccine has reached the State.

Manipur has already prepared 246 session sites spread out across all the 16 districts for the Covid vaccination.

All sites have been checked through Dry Runs and the facilities for online & offline submission of data has been made.

The Governor added that 14 Basic Life Support Ambulances were procured during the year 2020-21.Trauma Centre and Blood Bank at District Hospital, Senapati was completed.

Establishment of a New Medical College at Churachandpur under Centrally Sponsored Scheme was approved at the cost of Rs 325 crore.

On Law and Order and Justice Delivery, the Governor said Government has been constantly working to improve the overall security scenario of the State.

The State was recently awarded as the most improved small State under the category for 'overall' and 'law and order' by a reputed media organization.

Manipur is the most innovative State amongst North Eastern States as per India Innovation Index, 2020, released by NITI Aayog.

Nongpok Sekmai Police Station was awarded the "Best Police Station" by the Ministry of Home AffaiRs Construction of a 100 bedded barrack at MPTC and Model Police Station Grade-Ill at Porompat were completed.

Construction of a 40 bedded barrack each for Tengnoupal and Kakching district police are in progress.

New State Police Headquarters building will be constructed at a cost of Rs 50 crore.

With State Budget, 15 Toyota Innova Crysta for patrol duties were procured.

Under Nirbhaya Fund, a Control Room for Emergency Response Support System was established.

Under the Government's initiative on "War against Drugs", 258 drug-related cases were registered during the year and 357 persons arrested.

Large quantities of drugs like heroin and WY tablets were seized and over 2,800 acres of poppy plantation destroyed.

During the year, 184 sensitive cases against women and children and another 90 cases under POCSO Act were registered.

14 new Fire Sub-Stations are being established at an estimated cost of over Rs 279 Crore.

Various projects with funding from North Eastern Council are being taken up.

Improvement of Bishnupur-Nungba Road and Inter-State Truck Terminus at Sekmai will be completed soon, said the Governor.

Under North East Special Infrastructure Development Schemes, 9 projects worth over Rs 203 crore were sanctioned.

Out of these, Water Supply Distribution Network project for Churachandpur was completed.

District Hospital, Imphal West at Mayang Imphal at an estimated cost of Rs 65 crore was approved for sanction during the current year.

Out of six projects worth about Rs 125 crore sanctioned under Social and Infrastructure Development Fund to bridge infrastructure gaps in border areas, four projects, including construction of a bridge across Tuilak River, have been completed.

Speaking on education sector, Dr Najma Heptulla said ever since the State started "School Faghathanshi Mission", there has been a marked increase in student enrolment in the selected schools, besides improvement in physical infrastructures.

To motivate Government School Students, incentive awards were given to those who excelled in Class 10 and 12 examinations conducted by BOSEM and COHSEM.

A "Task Force" had also been constituted to frame a realistic roadmap for implementation of National Education Policy, 2020.Highlighting on the Power Sector, Governor said Government is committed to ensure 24x7 quality and reliable electric supply to all.

With the charging of the 400 KV Silchar-Imphal D/C transmission line, the Available Transmission Capacity of the interstate transmission line has been enhanced to cater to the power requirement of the State for the next 10 to 15 years.

As a step towards self-reliance in the generation sector, the State has been trying to implement the 66 MW Loktak Downstream Hydro Electric Project through joint venture mode with NHPC Ltd.

Out of 5.50 lakh consumers, around 3.5 lakh consumers are prepaid metered.

Prepaid meter for the balance 2 lakh consumers is being procured through a loan of Rs 200 Cr from Rural Electrification Corporation Limited.

Rs 54.70 Cr from Rural Electrification Corporation Limited is also being received for system strengthening.

Under North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS), the work of upgradation of Moirang Sendra Road upto Sendra Hillock and road from Moirang Sendra Road to Omba Hillock and Keina bazar on Moirang Khunou to Thanga Keibul Road was sanctioned at a cost of Rs 21.65 Cr during 2019-20 and is targeted for completion soon.

The construction of two ADB assisted roads namely, Tupul to Bishnupur measuring .51 Kms and Thoubal to Kasom Khulen measuring 47 Kms at cost of Rs 475.68 Cr was completed and opened to traffic.

Imphal-Kangchup-Tamenglong Road of 103 Kms under implementation with assistance of ADB for the cost of Rs 1400 Crore is targeted for completion in 2022.Later in the session, a Motion of Thanks to the Governor's address was moved by P Sharatchandra Singh MLA which was seconded by Sapam Ranjan Singh MLA.

The Governor's address will be discussed on February 4, 2021 .

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