NPF for separate Finance Dept for hills
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Imphal, October 09 2013 :
The Naga People's Front (NPF), Manipur State unit, has urged the 14th Finance Commission, Government of India to institute a separate Finance and Planning Department for hill districts of Manipur.
It also urged for timely release of funds and transparency.
The NPF also urged the Finance Commission to check misappropriation of funds.
Meanwhile, the NPF, Manipur State said if the points raised to the Commission materialise, it will speed up socio-economic development process in the hill districts of Manipur.
The NPF, Manipur State in a memorandum submitted to the 14th Finance Commission signed by its president Soso Lorho and its general secretary Athuan Abonmai demanded a special economic package for the five hill districts of Tamenglong, Churachandpur, Chandel, Ukhrul and Senapati.
"The package is meant for infrastructure development particularly in the field of sports, road and communication without which development works cannot properly take place and sports talents of youths remain untapped in the hills of Manipur," the NPF said.
Regarding the link-roads in the hills connecting the district headquarters, the NPF, Manipur State proposed that all of them should be constructed under the status of national highways.
It also demanded that the planned Diphu-Karong railway be revived in the interest of the State.
On the issue of electricity, the NPF proposed the 14th Finance Commision that micro-hydel projects be constructed over rivers and streams in the hill districts of Manipur to solve the power problem.
In connection with the healthcare issue, the NPF, Manipur State proposed the Finance Commission to establish a dispensary in every village.
The party proposed that the authorities concerned should explore ways and means to develop tourism industry in the hill districts by tapping those available potentials at the earliest.
NPF also demanded that drinking water be made available in every village in the hill areas.
"For this venture the Finance Commission is requested to make special water supply scheme for the hill districts of Manipur," appealed the party.
Finally, the NPF said the Government of India should make provisions for the introduction of industries to arrest the issues raised by the educated unemployed tribal youths in the State.
"The intervention of the Finance Commission and the government of India is the crying need to change the concept of valley district and lopsided planning of the government of Manipur which seem to have ignored the hill districts for a long period of time," the NPF, Manipur State said.