Panchayat Directorate under consideration
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 25 2013: Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Francis Ngajokpa has stated that the Government has been actively considering the possibility of establishing a full fledged Panchayat Directorate and also to carry out delimitation exercise.

Joining the discussion on demands for Panchayat in the State Assembly today, Francis Ngajokpa reminded that the State Government presented a proposal for establishment of Panchayat Directorate during a meeting between Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Members of Panchayati Raj Institutions at Imphal.

The department is also considering the establishment of a consultative body for Panchayat and a proposal would be tabled in the State Cabinet in this regard.

Maintaining that delimitation is not an easy task, Francis Ngajokpa claimed that the State Government is focused on carrying out delimitation exercise even if it takes time.

According to the Autonomous District Council Act 1971, ADCs have their own jurisdiction.

The same jurisdiction was demarcated in the run up to the 2010 ADC election leading to abolition of some Zilla Parishad seats.

It is essential to rectify and resolve the disputes and overlapping between ADCs and Zilla Parishads regarding their jurisdictions, Francis Ngajokpa asserted.

On account of these controversies, 3368 job card holders of MGNREGS belonging to four Gram Panchayats of Turibari and surrounding areas have not been getting their wages since September last year.

Powers of 16 different departments have been devolved to Panchayats under Section 53 of the Panchayati Raj Act.

Yet, the funding pattern, functions and functionaries of Panchayat needs examination, Francis stated.

In the course of the discussion, Dr I Ibohalbi raised the matter about one Government officer collecting six days wages at the rate of Rs 126 per day from 36,200 job card holders of Bishnupur district in 2009 on the pretext enrolling the MGNREGS workers for Birla Sun Life Insurance.

Although around Rs 2.70 crores were collected, only Rs 174 was deposited in the name of each job card holder.

Calculated at this rate, the total amount deposited in the name of job card holders would not cross Rs 60-65 lakhs, Ibohalbi stated.

He also urged the Government to initiate necessary action against the officers and staff involved in forfeiting the remaining amount which rightfully belongs to the MGNREGS workers.

To this, Francis Ngajokpa stated that necessary measures would be initiated according to law to punish the officials if they are found guilty for misappropriation of public fund.

Francis who is also in charge of Economics and Statistics Department said that the department is a very important one though it is little known to public.

Because of little fund allocation, the department is unable to many activities.

Nevertheless, development of necessary infrastructure would be initiated shortly with 98 per cent funding by the Centre, Francis Ngajokpa informed the House.

While discussing a demand for Horticulture and Soil Conservation Department, Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam who is in charge of the department, quoting a survey report of the National Horticulture Board, stated that 2,27,074 hectares were identified as potential horticulture area in the State.

This is 12 per cent of the State geographical area.

However, only 28 per cent of the 2.27 lakh hectares identified as potential horticulture area are cultivated at present.

It is being targeted to increase the area under (horticulture) cultivation to 80 per cent by 2020, Gaikhangam stated.

Informing that there are around 56,000 households who depend on jhum cultivation, Gaikhangam claimed that efforts are on to replace outdated agricultural method with scientific methods.

As of now, the Government has no capacity to ban jhum cultivation, he added.

A detail project report is being prepared for submission to the Government of India for introducing a new land use policy apart from rehabilitation of jhum cultivators and protection of forest and environment.

As against 1,18,260 tonnes of fruits required in Manipur in a year, the State produces only about 80,000 tonnes.

For soil conversation, there are a number of schemes.

Efforts are also on to revive Magfruit, Gaikha-ngam informed the House.

Later, the State Assembly passed Rs 61,32,63,000 for Panchayat, Rs 33,98,18,000 for Horticulture and Soil Conservation and Rs 25,58,60,000 for Economics and Statistics.

Dr I Ibohalbi, Th Shyamkumar, Kh Joykishan, P Brojen, Samuel Risom and Dikho too participated in discussing the demands.

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