Cabinet defers UNC topic, no date fixed
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 27 2011: The State Cabinet today has deferred a discussion on the agenda for holding another round of talks with the United Naga Council (UNC).

The Cabinet has also given its nod to extension of the Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) signed with KCP Lallumba group and Kuki UG groups for one year after their due expiry in August.

Talking to mediapersons in connection with the Cabinet meeting, spokesperson of the SPF Government and IFCD Minister N Biren said that the demand for 'alternative arrangement ' raised by UNC had already been rejected by both the Centre and the State Government in the last talks held at Senapati.

However, after the Ministry of Home Affairs insisted on holding another around talks, the agenda was included in today's Cabinet meeting.

But it has been deferred.

Among other agenda taken up for discussion in the Cabinet meeting today, it has been recommended that election for Chingai and Sangshak under Ukhrul district; Tuingam, Punanamei, Khongshang, Maram, Lairouching, Chawanamei, Tadubi and Phaibung under Senapati district which could not participate in the last ADC election be held on October 24 .

The Cabinet also approved devolution of 50 percent of the power to the ADCs, the spokesperson informed.

Furthermore, the Cabinet has recommended convening 11th session of the 9th Manipur Legislative Assembly on August 24, the spokesperson added.

Biren further said that implementation of Rashtriya Swastriya Bima Yojana, which used to be confined only in Imphal East district, would now be extended to every district.

Under this programme, financial assistance of upto Rs 30,000 in a year would be provided to 9000 BPL families approved by the Planning Commission.

The Cabinet has also given its approval to extension of the mMemorandum of Understandings signed with KCP Lallumba group and Kuki UG groups for another one year as the MoUs are due to expire by August next.

Informing that the Cabinet has also given approval to setting up a State consumer helpline, Biren explained that for this, the Centre would be providing Rs 16,25,000 .

All the required expenditure for the first one year of setting up the helpline would be financed by the Government of India and from the second year, the expenditure would be shared 50 percent each by the Centre and the State Government.

In addition, the Centre would be providing an annual recurring grant of Rs 5.40 lakhs for five years.

Moreover, the Cabinet has approved setting up of State Disaster Response Force and utilisation of 520 Excise personnel in the said Force.

The Cabinet also gave its nod to inscribing the cultural identities of not just that of the recognised tribes but of all the tribes on the dome of the Assembly complex being constructed at Chingmeirong.

Offering of SI posts in Manipur Police to Arjuna awardees Suranjoy and Sandhyarani, regular pension to family members of three security personnel who were killed on duty in the landslide near T Sinam along NH-53 and suitable posts to the family members of three others have also been approved by the Cabinet today.

Lastly, the Cabinet gave its approval to setting up of six call centres in the Election Department where the voters could lodge their complaints with regard to inclusion or exclusion of names in the electoral rolls, the spokesperson informed.

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