Assembly session opens, CM tables Budget Estimates
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 10 2013: The fifth (Monsoon) session of the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly was opened today with a condolence service in honour of Damjakhai Vaiphei who was elected from Churachandpur Assembly constituency in 1948-49 during the pre-merger period.

Damjakhai Vaiphei passed away on May 11 last.

The House observed two minutes silence as a mark of respect to the departed soul.

Condoling the demise of Damjakhai Vaiphei, House leader Okram Ibobi stated that it was his misfortune he could not personally meet Damjakhai who worked for the people in the capacity of a bureaucrat as well as an elected politician.

He was an experienced leader both as a bureaucrat and a politician.

After Manipur merged with India, Damjakhai Vaiphei worked as a Veterinary Surgeon in 1957 and retired in 1988 as Joint Director.

While conveying solidarity to the bereaved family, Ibobi prayed that the departed soul may rest in peace in the heavenly abode.

MLA Manga Vaiphei too prayed for God's blessing on the bereaved family.

MLA Th Shyamkumar remarked that Damjakhai was one of the few leaders who knew the difference between the present administration and the past.

Later Chief Minister O Ibobi who is also Finance Minister tabled the fifth report of the Business Advisory Committee, 2013 .

He also tabled the Budget Estimates 2013-14 as well as Demands for Excess Grants of 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 .

Presenting the Budget Estimates for 2013-14, Chief Minister O Ibobi informed the House that plan outlay for the current financial year has been fixed at Rs 3650 crores.

This plan fund would be utilised in ongoing projects and new ones.

Recalling that the budget for 2012-13 was closed with a deficit of Rs 364.76 crores, the CM said this was much lesser compared to the Rs 510 crore deficit of 2011-12 .

Stating that the expected estimates of receipts for the current FY is Rs 8990 crores against the expenditure estimates of Rs 9397.78 crores, Ibobi informed the House that the Government would pay greater attention to social service sector this financial year, and accordingly Rs 978.14 crores (26 per cent of the total plan outlay) have been allocated to social service sector.

Sectorial allocation as Ibobi tabled in the House is Rs 948.70 crores for Irrigation and Flood Control and Rs 685.63 crores for general economic services.

Out of Rs 400 crores incorporated under Special Central Assistance, Rs 485 crores have been set aside to pay for the State's share and backlogs for central sponsored schemes/additional central assistance schemes and other flagship programmes, Ibobi stated.

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