CM announces Centre's sop for Meitei Pangals
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 08, 2013: Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh today announced that the Central Government has approved Rs 300 crore fund under a new Prime Minister's package for economic development of Manipur's minority Muslim community.

The CM conveyed the Centre's approval at a State level political convention of minority Muslims organised by the MPCC Minority Development cell at Congress Bhavan today.

Addressing the gathering Ibobi elaborated that the Rs 300 crore economic package is for construction of Muslim boys and girls' hostels, development of school infrastructure, implementing water supply schemes and other developmental works for the Muslims.

Affirming that the Government of India is committed to effectively address economic problems besetting the minority community, he noted that the Muslim people safeguarding religious practices and appreciable number of Muslim students pursuing academic excellence testify positive development in the community.

Observing that the word minority is an antithesis term in the present Manipuri society, the CM welcomed educational opportunities extended to Muslim students in remote and interior locations unlike in the past when only youngsters of Lilong Assembly Constituency could have access to educational facilities.

A file picture of Id-ul Adha celebration at Changamdhabi. Pix : Bullu Raj - Poknapham

Calling upon the people to promote education of both boys and girls, he reminded that aspiration for a progressive society would materialise only when discrimination against the girls is eradicated.

informing that there is no procedural laxity in setting up a separate directorate of the Muslims along with confiding that a model school would be established at Lilong, the CM maintained that construction work for the women's polytechnic in Lilong is in the final stages.

There will be four percent reservation for Muslim candidates in admission as well as staff recruitment for the said polytechnic, said the CM, who also holds the Finance portfolio.

speaking at the occasion, MPCC president and Deputy CM Gaikhangam acknowledging the Muslim community as an indispensable component of the Indian society, expressed that minority cells in the Congress party organisation is to expedite economic development and ensure political rights of the Muslim people.

Asserting that the Congress party is the only political organisation that protects interest of the minority communities, the State congress chief dismissed recent comment by a CPI leader as unfounded and testimony that the opposition party is reluctant to accept the people's faith upon the Congress party.

reacting against the said CPI leader's claim that hinted at electoral malpractices in the election of the 42 Congress legislators, Gaikhangam opined that apart from political naivety the claim would have been ponderable had the CPI managed to sent 1/2 of its representatives in the state Assembly.

In case the CPI believes that Congress party indulged in electoral malpractices why had the CPI not adopted a more viable strategy to ensure success of its candidates in the elections, posed the Dy CM Lok Sabha MP Dr Th Meinya, PHE Minister I Hemochandra, Agriculture Minister Md Abdul Nasir, Parliamentary Secretary Amin Shah and AICC Minority Department's Secretary Aneesh Durani were also present at the convention.