Transparency web application launched
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 12 2018: Chief Minister N Biren today informed the Manipur Legislative Assembly that a web application called Digital Application for Review by Public and Nation or DARPAN in short has been launched with the primary objective of ensuring maximum transparency in governance.

While discussing a demand for grant pertaining to the Planning Department today, Biren stated that details of projects and schemes taken up by different departments are uploaded in DARPAN launched by Planning Department.

The details shared through the web application include satellite mapping and geo-tagging of different projects/schemes and funds released.

The web application would go a long way in checking fraudulence such as making false claims of completing a project without actually executing or completing the project, Biren claimed.

Supplementing MLA K Leishiyo's observation that Kamjong and Kasom Khullen are quite vast in terms of area though thinly populated, Biren informed the House that the State Government had urged the Ministry of DoNER to prepare topographical need based budget.

Even though the State budget does not have enough money, the State Government has been working to construct roads in the interior areas of the State like Kamjong and Kasom Khullen, Biren stated.

The intensified drive against drug abuse, destruction of poppy plantations and the proposal to promote rearing mithun so as to reduce jhum cultivation are highly commendable, he remarked and pledged that all efforts would be invested to translate the initiative into action.

The Chief Minister announced that the Chief Minister-gi Lairik Yengminashi (CMLY) programme would be launched within 10 days.

He made this announcement while discussing a demand pertaining to Minority and Other Backward Classes (MOBC).

Under the CMLY programme, remedial coaching would be given to minority, OBC and SC students free of cost.

The places where remedial coaching would be done have been identified and selection of teachers and coordinators has also been completed, Biren claimed.

Selection of beneficiaries for economic development programmes and other schemes taken up by MOBC has been completed and the names of selected beneficiaries would be announced soon.

It took sometime in rectifying the lapses and discrepancies committed in the past in the process of selecting beneficiaries including students for scholarship.

Moreover, there is acute for shortage of staff at MOBC.

As all benefits would be provided through Direct Benefit Transfer, there would be little lapses this time, Biren said.

In the course of discussing a demand pertaining to Community and Rural Development, RD&PR Minister Thongam Biswajit clarified that it took sometime in holding tender for PMGSY, Phase XI on account of shortage of manpower at Rural Engineering Department (RED) which is the implementing agency of PMGSY and there was no question of negligence.

Nonetheless, the tender process is in the final stage.

Tender bids would be opened within the current soon after the Assembly session is over.

The State Government had formulated a policy for maintenance of PMGSY roads in 2016.As per the policy, maintenance of roads constructed under PMGSY is the responsibility of the concerned contractors for the first five years after which the State Government would take over the responsibility, Biswajit stated.

The State Government has been working to repair roads which are more man five years old or highly dilapidated.

For this, the State Government has written to the Government of India seeking monetary aid of Rs 211 crore.

In response, the Ministry concerned suggested the State Government to enlist the same work programme in the next phase of PMGSY, Biswajit conveyed.

Regarding MGNREGS, Biswajit said that there were certain hindrances when the electronic fund transfer system was introduced in April last year.

Funds sanctioned for MGNREGS are based on the performance of preceding years.

The State's performance during the past couple of years was quite poor.

The number of mandays were 27 in 2013-14, 24 in 2014-15, 13 in 2015-16 and 23 in 2016-17, Biswajit said.

Out of Rs 156.76 crore released by the Centre for MGNREGS, Rs 98.93 crore has been released and it included State share of Rs 10.99 crore.

Out of 5.39 lakh people who applied for MGNREGS job cards, such cards have been issued to 4.94 people which is 91.58 per cent.

Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Minister V Hangkhanlian, while discussing a demand pertaining, informed the House that there are 55 institutions including district hospitals, 109 dispensaries and 34 veterinary centres under the department.

Responding to observations made by Opposition Members that buildings of most veterinary conditions are in shabby conditions while majority of the staff have been staying away from their offices, Hangkhanlian assured that he would look into the matter.

Taking due note of the precarious situation faced by Manipuri ponies, Hangkhanlian said that vanishing grazing grounds is one major problem.

Nevertheless, plans are afoot to develop a pony sanctuary at the foothills of Marjing, Heingang and polo clubs are being given Rs 15,000 each annually to help feed ponies.

As for now, no steps have been taken up to promote rearing of mithun nor any amount has been earmarked in the State budget for the same purpose, Hangkhanlian said.

He added that he would work to take up such an initiative by taking financial assistance from the Centre or after sending a proposal to the State Planning Department.

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