Imphal, July 09 2009: The state Assembly today passed Rs 674 crore budget for five demands for the fiscal year 2009-10 on the first day of the demand-wise discussion.

The five demands for which the budget was passed include State Legislature (Rs 17,48,01,000), Council of Minister (Rs 2,85,50,000), Secretariat (Rs 37,75,09,000), Elections (Rs 3, 60,53,000), and General Economic Services and Planning (Rs 612,47,02,000) .

Participating in the budget discussion, Members from the opposition bench including MPP MLAs O Joy, Dr Ng Bijoy, Dr I Ibohalbi and RK Anand have moved the token cut and policy cut motions.

NCP MLA Radhabinod Koijam and MLA Khasim Ruivah have also participated in the discussion.

Acknowledging the participation and suggestion of the opposition MLAs, Chief Minister O Ibobi said the Council of Ministers has been committed to undertake the works with transparency.

He also appealed the ministers to maintain transparency in days to come too.

Chief Minister O Ibobi also urged the ministers to inform concerned/local MLA while taking up developmental works and activities in the constituency adding that it will be prudent on the part of the MLAs too to extend cooperation to the concerned minister in such case.

Ibobi also advised the ministers to cooperate the MLAs when they highlight the grievances and needs of the people of their respective constituency in collaboration with the concerned officials.

He also informed the House that the ministers have been strictly instructed to attend their offices lest there is an emergency in domestic affair while adding that effort for streamlining of the departments has also been initiated.

O Ibobi further informed that the channel for reimbursement of salaries of the MLAs and ministers has been reviewed.

There has been approval to draw the salaries of the MLAs, ministers and their staffs from the bank.

However, for the employees, it has been computerized in 16 treasury offices except for Tamenglong and Ukhrul districts.

Asserting that the construction of Manipur Bhavan in Guwahati will be completed soon, the CM also assured for the construction of Manipur Bhavan in Shillong.

He also said that citizens who attain the age of 18 can be enrolled in the voter list every year and the name of those expired can also be removed.

Moving the cut motion, MPP MLA O Joy said, though the Parliamentary system of democracy is adopted in India, the MLAs and the people of Manipur are yet to relish the flavour of it.

And, as such, he said, the Council of Ministers has to play a great role to fulfill it.

There has been a big gap in the functioning of the council of ministers.

Due to lack of transparency and responsibility, even the MLAs are not getting appointment with the ministers.

Even the officials are disregarding the ministers and the MLAs while citing the case of West Bengal where the elected representatives are given first priority.

The value of the elected representatives becomes cheap when they were asked to wait along with the common men.

Calling to change the system, he also suggests arranging of separate waiting place for the MLAs.

He also said that no work has been completed on time.

It will be a wrong notion that ministers should have a nap on cozy bed.

He suggests that the ministers be kept under close scrutiny and make them attend their offices regularly.

Saying that the programmes included in the Governor's address must be materialised, he also calls for saving the Manipur Bhavan in Guwahati and Shillong.

MLA Dr I Ibohalbi also stressed the need for maintaining good relations between the Council of Ministers and MLAs.

While seeing that the opposition members are harassed, he also urged to do away with it.

MLA Radhabinod Koijam has also dwelt on the need to have quality governance.

He also urged for arranging telecast of the proceeding of the House instead of telecasting the question session only.

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