Centre hasn't shared anything on Naga peace talk: Biren
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, October 14 2019: Asserting that the Central Government has not informed anything on what can be done in connection with the Naga peace talk, Chief Minister N Biren Singh has categorically stated that the State Government will safeguard the larger interests of the State.

He was replying to a query whether there has been any communication between the Central Government and the State Government on the Naga peace talk by the sideline of "Van Dhan Vikas Karyakram and State Level Advocacy Workshop" which was jointly organized by State Forest Department and Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) at Classic Grande, Imphal today.

Centre hasn't shared anything on Naga peace talk: Biren

The Chief Minister further stated that the State Government has been closely observing the developments of the peace talk going on between the Central Government and NSCN-IM.

"Till now, the Central Government has not informed or sent anything about what can be done (by the State Government).

But the State Government is closely monitoring the peace talk at some level.

We will definitely safeguard the larger interest of the State and will not compromise it at any cost.", he said.

Speaking as chief guest at the inaugural function of the workshop, Chief Minister N Biren Singh said that the Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Vikas Yojana will transform the tribal economy of the State.

He announced that altogether 75 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras would be opened in the State.

Under the Van Dhan Vikas Yojana, the State Government will be focusing on collection, processing and value addition of eight non-timber forest products such as hill broom, gooseberry, wild honey, mushroom, wild apple, bamboo shoot, Indian Olive (chorphon) and turmeric.

The Chief Minister mentioned that it is indeed great that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has initiated various welfare programmes and schemes for the North East and tribal people of the region.

The Hill Areas Development Programme (HADP) has been introduced for hilly States like Manipur to bring equal development in both hills and valley of the State.

Tamenglong district would be getting Rs 90 lakh under the programme, he added.

Biren said that cold chain systems would be constructed in five hill districts of the State.

Tamenglong and Noney would be covered under HADP.

The three other districts viz Imphal West, Imphal East and Pherzawl will be covered under the State plan.

The Chief Minister maintained that in the last two years and a half, peace has prevailed in the State.

With the support and cooperation of the people, the growth rate of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) has doubled from four per cent in 2016-17 to eight per cent in 2018-19, he added.

Manipur has topped in terms of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) businesses registration among the North Eastern States of the country.

He also stated that Manipur has topped in women ownership in MSME businesses.

Manipur women own 50 percent of MSME businesses, he added.

The State Cabinet recently approved the 'Stand Up Manipur' scheme under the existing Start Up Manipur Scheme to provide subsidy and soft loans to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, OBC, Women and Minorities of the State for setting up business.

Stating that Manipur is facing menace of drug abuse and there is mass plantation of poppy in hill areas, the Chief Minister said that the Government has declared 'war against drugs' and mass destruction of poppy plantation has been going on at various parts of the State.

The Government is actively providing alternative livelihood to the poppy farmers, he claimed while adding that the Van Dhan Vikas Yojana would also help such farmers by improving their livelihood and income.

Minister for PHED Losii Dikho, Chairman TRIFED (Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India) RC Meena, Chairman of Manipur Tribal Development Corporation Vungzagin Valte, MLAs Khasim Vashum, O Lukhoi, H Dingo, Vice Chairperson TRIFED Pratibha Brahma, Chief Secretary Dr J Suresh Babu, PCCF and Head of Forest Force K Angami, Managing Director TRIFED Pravir Krishna, officials of Ministry of Tribal Affairs and others attended the function.