Okendro impresses Opposition bench
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 10 2012:
Impressed and satisfied with the report tabled by M Okendro about the works being done during the short period since assuming the charge of Education Minister during discussion of demands in the State Assembly today, opposition Member Dr I Ibohalbi withdrew his motion of policy cut and sought attention of the Chief Minister to allocate greater share of the annual plan amount to Education Department.
In the course of discussing the demand for Education Department, Okendro presented a detailed report about the works he has done for raising the level of school education in Manipur, the foremost being establishment of Manipur Education Service, compilation of teachers' seniority list, arrangement for providing pensionary benefit on the day of retirement and successful filling of CPIS forms for more than 9000 teachers.
For the teachers who did not gave their full particulars at the time of filling CPIS forms, the Department would not bear any responsibility, stated the Education Minister.
He also claimed that the Department has framed a transfer and it is only awaiting Cabinet approval.
Okendro sought support of all House Members in effecting transfer of teachers only at the end of academic sessions.
It is also being considered to set up a corporation for handling the task of printing text books for RMSA and SSA.
The department is planning to run aided schools with good academic records on PPP model.
Despite all the good intentions to execute a number of plans and programmes, only Rs 8.48 crores would be available with the department out of the total allocation for this year after paying all the dues, Okendro lamented.
After listening to the Education Minister, Dr Ibohalbi withdrew his motion of policy cut.
He went on to clarify that being opposition members does not necessary mean they should oppose any policy or programme of the Government.
Ibohalbi said that he was only discharging his duty of a construction opposition.
Taking part in the discussion, Chief Minister O Ibobi stated that the Government does not have any intention to act measly with Education Department but Rs 1000 crores out of the plan amount must be spent in bearing 10 per cent of many central sponsored schemes.
Funds which cannot be utilised by other Departments at the end of the ninth month of the current financial year would be diverted to Education Department, Ibobi assured the House.