CM appeals to fight corruption through new mechanism
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, June 11 2013:
The address of the Governor given during the first budget session of the 10th Manipur State Assembly on March 6 last was passed unanimously by the House after a thorough deliberation on the floor of the House today.
The address of the Governor was brought up for discussion on the floor of the House as a motion by MLA L Nandakumar and Dr Ng Bijoy.
Opposition MLAs including Dr I Ibohalbi, Th Shyamkumar, Kh Joykishan and L Ibomcha gave their comments and suggestions on the Governor's address during the deliberation.
Moving the motion, MLA L Nandakumar and Dr Ng Bijoy termed the address as worthy of appreciation and said that it touches every aspect of all works of all departments taken up in the past, present and also has future vision.
However, MLA Dr I Ibohalbi, while pointing out loop holes in the Governor's address, stated that the address of the Governor has no mention of the Chief Secretary and the Principal Secretaries of Manipur which is very unfortunate.
Exclusion of the top officials of the State Government in the Governor's address is not a sign of good governance.
Drawing the attention of the House, Dr I Ibohalbi further stated that corruption has taken deep roots in every department of the State whereby not a single file is made to pass a table without being given some bribes.
Coming late in the office and returning early has become the trend of the day.
Under such situations, it would be wrong to say that there is good governance in the State.
Joining the deliberation, MLA Th Shyamkumar pointed out that though the address of the Governor mention about tourism, it only sticks to tourism festival and misses out on Loktak Lake, Museum in Andro and the famous Siroy Lily.
So, the address of the Governor is incomplete in the real sense of the term.
He also pointed out the need to put in some changes in the Governor's address as there is no mention on the forest and environment and also the drug issue in the State.
MLA Kh Joykishan also alleged that the Governor's address has failed to mention anything on the issue of drug menace in the State and as such it has not come up with specific policy to curb the situation which is the need of the hour.
Opposition MLA Laishom Ibomcha contended that the Governor's address has no vision of the present and future and as such it is totally hollow.
It also failed to bring out any solution to the prevailing problems along the National Highways of the State.
No mentioned has been made over establishment of more courts related to hearing of drug related cases.
Furthermore, he pointed out the need to urge the Central Government to provide special status to Manipur considering the dependency of the State to other States of the country.
There are some States who have already got the special status and are enjoying the benefits provided.
In his response to the points raised by the Opposition MLAs, Chief Minister O Ibobi who is also the leader of the House, observed that every issue and problem of the State may not have been mentioned in the Governor's address since inclusion of all issues would not be feasible.
He also acknowledged that the suggestions given by the opposition MLAs are for the welfare of the general public.
The Chief Minister informed that House that there has been an increase of 7% in the economic growth of the State during the last 5 years.
He also appealed to all the UG groups in the State to come out and have dialogue with the government and said that proper rehabilitation centre for the surrendered UG groups has been arranged.
A new State AIDS Policy is also in the process of formation.
All ongoing projects will be completed shortly.
Expressing concern over the prevailing cases of corruption in the State, the Chief Minister called for suggestions and feedbacks from all the MLAs, NGOs and the general public on formation of a new mechanism to control corruption.