CM takes notes of 'unethical practices' in Secretariat ; Advises Ministers to consult MLAs
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 17 2014: Chief Mi-nister Okram Ibobi has advised all his Council of Ministers to consult respective MLAs and work in transparent manner while implementing any development programme.

The Chief Minister also declared on the floor of the House today that there is a need to revamp the working system of Manipur Secretariat Services.

The Chief Minister who is also in charge of Finance Department put up demands pertaining to State Legislature, Council of Ministers, Secretariat, Finance, Art and Culture and Economics & Statistics for discussion and due consent of the House.

Responding to the arguments and cut motions raised by opposition Members, Ibo-bi advised his Council of Ministers to be in touch with local MLAs and work in transparent manner while implementing any development programme in the interest of public.

A potential toursim site at Andro where CM O Ibobi assured to study for development as a tourist site

Talking about Secretariat Services, Ibobi stated that there have been many complaints and words of grie- vances against the Secretariat from MLAs as well as public.

The situation is like Secretariat staff starting from peons and dealing clerks bargain for any service and indulge in/entertain snobbery.

This is a challenge to the democratic system of governance, Ibobi remarked.

There is a need to do away with the current practice of deliberately and inordinately delaying file process and making unnecessary queries.

The whole system need to be streamlined after recruiting requisite staff to the full strength.

In order to visualize and document the history of Seven Years' Devastation for the future generations, the Government would consult Art and Culture Department and see if a documentary film can be produced on the historic episode.

The Government would also consider the feasibility of opening film cities at Senapati and Chandel in view of the growing number of film artistes.

Ibobi further assured that his Government would examine what can be done at Andro regarding its huge tourism potential where a sacred fire is also burning with- out any interruption since many decades back.

The Government would examine what can be done under Art and Culture Dept and also what initiatives can be taken up under Tourism Dept.

Stating that Economics and Statistics Department is a very important even though they are relatively unknown to public, Ibobi admitted that the requisite staff of the department and other departments functioning at district level could not be appointed due to the State's sick financial condition.

The Chief Minister assured that all the funds entitled to the State would be obtained from NEC, NLCPR and the 13th Finance Commission after releasing the sanctioned funds and submission of utilization certificates in time.

Die-in-harness scheme which was kept in abeyance for sometime has been once again reactivated since 2008 with some improvement in the State's financial condition.

Now, 10 per cent of vacant posts can be filled up through die-in-harness scheme.

There would be no room for lobbying or manipulation in recruitment through die-in-harness scheme.

It would be done on first come, first serve basis.

The Chief Minister further assured that the Government would check whether all those in the waiting list of recruitment of die-in-harness scheme can be recruited in a single phase.

Between 2005 till date, the Government has appointed 20,924 employees.

For these employees, 10 per cent of their salaries and another 10 per cent would be paid by the State Government for investment in the Defined Contribution Scheme introduced by the Government of India recently.

For employees appointed this year, the State's share of Rs 19,86,24,000 would be deposited in their respective accounts.

While expressing regret over the Government's failure to allot quarters to all the MLAs, Ibobi informed that the Government has been considering to acquire land at Mantripukhri for construction of quarters of common design of all the 60 MLAs.

Each of the quarters would be named after the respective Assembly constituencies.

In the course of discussing the demands, MLA Kh Joykishan, moving policy cuts, said that many inconveniences and difficulties were encountered while implementing development programmes as the local MLAs were not consulted.

MLA Th Shyamkumar proposed to bring the sacred fire of Andro under Art and Culture Department and earmark certain amount in the State budget for its preservation.

MLA L Ibomcha called upon the Government to monitor movement of officials files and ensure processing of official file in a systematic manner.

He further suggested abolition of the archaic hill house tax system which was devised by British colonial rulers and replacement with a permanent settlement system for introduction of new tax collection system.

Dr I Ibohalbi demanded to know economic status of the Meitei community of Manipur.

He then urged the Chief Minister to collect district profiles from District Statistical Officers so that there can be pre-budget economic reviews.

He further asked for effective and smooth coordination between Statistics, Finance and Planning Departments.