Drill on to study assets of Ministers, MLAs
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 31 2011:
At the instruction of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, the first meeting of the Cabinet Sub-Committee, which has been set up to look into the assets and liabilities of the Ministers and MLAs in the SPF Government, was held today.
The Union Homew Ministry has also expressed its keenness on monitoring the activities of the NGOs operating in Manipur.
The Cabinet Sub-Committee was set up following a recommendation of the State Cabinet.
According to an official source, the meeting of the Cabinet Sub-Committee presided by its chairman, Law Minister Th Debendra, was held in his office chamber at around 10.30 am today.
Committee members Agriculture Minister Ph Parijat and Information Minister TN Haokip attended the meeting.
However, two other Committee members namely Health Minister L Jayantakumar and IFC Minister N Biren could not make it to the meeting.
Apart from discussing issues related to formulation of a code of conduct for the Ministers as well as on the assets and other liabilities of the Ministers and MLAs, the meeting decided to start the activities of the Committee with regard to submission of a report on its findings over monitoring of the assets and other liabilities of the Ministers and MLAs along with getting a copy of the applicable format from the Centre.
Instead of the earlier arrangements of submitting the report to the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister, the meeting further discussed the directive of the Chief Minister to submit the report to the Governor first.
The Cabinet Sub-Committee is expected to finalise its report by next month and would submit the same to the Governor after the State Cabinet takes a resolution in this regard, the source disclosed, adding that the next meeting of the Committee would be held in the second week of next month.
Meanwhile, the Joint Secretary (Cabinet) has reportedly written to the Ministry of Home Affairs today explaining that a Cabinet Sub-Committee has already been set up to look into the assets and other liabilities of the Ministers and MLAs and submission of the report of the Committee would be decided by the Cabinet.
It may be noted here that Opposition parties have alleged high level corruption among the Ministers of the SPF Government.
On the other hand, the Union Home Ministry has shown keen interest on monitoring the activities of the NGOs operating in Manipur and find out how the funds provided are being utilised and how it may reach the hands of the UGs.
According to officials in the Union Home Ministry, issues related to Manipur in this regard have been discussed thoroughly during a joint meeting of the Chief Secretaries and DGPs of the States presided over by Union Home Secretary GK Pillai at New Delhi today.
Chief Secretary of Manipur DS Poonia and Additional DGP LM Khoute participated in the meeting which also focused on evoking relevant provisions under Money Laundering Act, if required, and setting up of anti-human trafficking units.