House clears seven demands
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 01 2022:
Chief Minister N Biren has categorically stated that his Government has been investing maximum efforts to strengthen Manipur Police and raise the morale of policepersonnel.
On the 8th day of the ongoing State Assembly session, seven demands for grants amounting to Rs 2461.80 crore were passed on Monday.
In the course of discussing the demands for grants, the Chief Minister claimed that police-public relationship has improved significantly since a BJP-led Government was formed in the State in 2017.Sub-standard apparels and gears supplied to police personnel was investigated and the sub-standard articles have been replaced by branded ones, he said.
Necessary measures have been taken up to avoid flaws and lapses and prevent corruption in promotion, transfer and posting of police personnel, he said.
Police have a momentous role in ensuring good governance.
Criminal activities will come down and a peaceful society can be realised when the police force is strengthened.
Driven by this belief, the Government has been working to increase the manpower of Manipur Police and enhance its surveillance and intelligence networks, he asserted.
In addition to making necessary recommendations for gallantry awards and other decorations in favour of deserving police officers and personnel, the Government has started giving monetary rewards to outstanding personnel based on their achievements, the Chief Minister informed the House.
Biren said that the Government has taken up several measures to strength Manipur Police and raise the morale of officers and personnel under the police modernisation programme.
However, the Government would take up stem action if any police officer or personnel is found involved in illegal activities, specially smuggling of drugs.
Clarifying to a policy cut motion raised by MLA K Meghachandra, the leader of the House said that due process has been initiated to conduct interview for promotion of 2846 Head Constables to the rank of Assistant Sub Inspector.
The process was delayed for sometime following an order passed by the Supreme Court regarding reservation.
Nonetheless, the matter, is being examined by the Department of Personnel, he said.
The matter of giving promotion to 40 female Inspectors is also being examined.
Even if all of them are not promoted at one go, the Government has been studying to give promotion to some of them in the first phase, Biren continued.
All possible benefits would be given to VDF personnel but the question of raising their remuneration would need an examination, he said.
The Chief Minister informed that an FIR has been registered and investigation is underway into the recent incident where some BJYM members created a scene at the Congress Bhavan.
It is not an easy task to enact legislation on smuggling of drugs and abuse of intoxicating substances.
There is the ND&PS Act at the National level.
Nonetheless, the ND&PS Manipur Amendment Ordinance has been formulated and sent to the Central Government.
The ordinance seeks to raise the quantum of penalty laid down under Section 15 of ND&PS Act, he continued.
Necessary arrangement has been made to procure a machine for testing drugs, particularly heroin (No 4)., Biren told the House.
Responding to several points raised by Congress MLA Okram Surjakumar on the border row, the Chief Minister maintained that the border pillars were installed after determining their coordinates using machines which have been approved a the international level and there has been no instance of shifting the border pillars.
Biren said that the Government would initiate a process of constructing border fence on Behiang side.
There is a cyber crime unit of Manipur Police with adequate manpower.
The Government has been working to procure more modem equipment and machines in addition to the existing ones, Biren told the House.
A team of NSG is currently giving extra trainini to 170 commando personnel.
"Although there is a machine for testing DNA at the Forensic Science Laboratory.
Pangei, I cannot say at the moment when it would start operation", Biren said.
He said that the Government has been working to station one full battalion of security forces on Imphal-Jiribam highway Responding to certain points raised by Th Lokeshwar while discussing the demand for grant pertaining to Relief and Disaster Management, Minister Awangbow Newmai said that the Government has been working to create a 'disaster map' of the State with the help of Science & Technology Department and MARS AC.
Generally SDRF carry out rescue operations at times of natural disaster and often NDRF personnel are called for help The losses or extent of damages caused by natural disasters are usually estimated by the DDMA concerned Awangbow said.
MLAs Md Abdul Nasir and M Rameshwar also took part in discussing the demands.
Later, the State Assembly passed seven demands for grants pertaining to Police (Rs 2201,39,21,000).Vigilance & Anti-Corruption (Rs 8,24,19,000), Fire Protection & Control (Rs 35,87,8,3,000), Jails (Rs 42,67,78,000).Home Guards (Rs 52,51,89,000), Rehabilitation (Rs 6,94,32,000) and Relief & Disaster Management (Rs 114,14,88,000) .