Govt has started paying CMHT premium: CM to House
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 09 2018: As the State Government has already started paying premium for the Chief Minister-gi Hakshelgi Tengbang (CMHT), eligible beneficiaries have also started getting due benefits, claimed Chief Minister N Biren while discussing a demand for Health and Family Welfare Services in the State Assembly today.

The State Government has also been working to implement the National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS) and CMHT concurrently.

Around 15 lakh people are eligible for CMHT including AAY card holders, differently abled persons, widows and those identified by the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC).

The policy was framed after minute deliberations for about 5/6 months.

A company named Medi Asisst has been already hired and they would go to each household listed in SECC and give a smart card or identification card.

The Government would pay Rs 2 crore to the company annually, Biren informed the House.

Eligible beneficiaries should produce the smart cards while being admitted in hospitals and officials of the company stationed at hospitals would submit reports to the directorate before monetary assistance guaranteed by CMHT is released in the form of e-transaction.

A beneficiary would get monetary assistance of Rs two lakh in a year, Biren stated.

SECC report is reviewed by DCs.

People who are not enlisted in SECC but are verified by DCs concerned or other authority as genuinely eligible for the scheme would get all the benefits guaranteed by the scheme, said the Chief Minister.

Similar medical assistance is given to people in some States including Nagaland after depositing huge amounts with insurance companies but what has been launched in Manipur is a health assurance programme, Biren said.

Health and Family Welfare Minister L Jayantakumar said that a written intimation has been sent to MPSC to review the written test held for recruitment of 300 Medical Officers and 11 Dental Surgeons.

The Government would take a decision on the matter after receiving a reply from MPSC.

Opposition MLAs raised doubts on the recruitment test as only 54 candidates cleared the test out of around 700 candidates who took part in the test.

Saying that the matter should be resolved at the earliest in the interest of the public, Jayantakumar assured that maximum efforts would be invested to complete Imphal East District Hospital and Imphal West District Hospital which are being constructed at Sagolmang and Mayang Imphal respectively as soon as possible.

While the officials concerned have been directed to release incentives of ASHA workers in time, the State Government would ask the Central Government to hike the incentives.

As the MBBS seats at JNIMS has been raised from 100 to 150, the Government would initiate due process to augment the existing infrastructure including class rooms and hostels, Jayantakumar said.

While discussing a demand for Power, Power Minister Th Biswajit said that the State's Aggregate Technical and Commercial (ATC) loss has declined from 44 per cent to 28 per cent and the Government has been working to further reduce it to 20 per cent during 2018-19.This would require upgradation of the existing transmission and distribution system, he said.

Regarding power tariff, Biswajit informed the House that there is a proposal to raise the monthly fixed rate from Rs 60 to Rs 65 but this would be decided by the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission after holding a public hearing.

To address the problem of shortage and unavailability of power at Vangai Range, a road would be constructed first and Rs 80 lakh has been earmarked for the same purpose.

At the moment, all power equipment including transformers are taken there by waterways.

The Government has also been working to take power transformers to Tipaimukh beyond Thanlon, Biswajit said.

The Government has also been making necessary arrangements to get 50 per cent share of the Loktak Downstream Project even if it cannot own it fully.

The Government is negotiating with firm based in Switzerland to invest in the project.

A Gurgaon-based firm was roped in to re-assess 30 sites identified for taking up mini hydro projects and 15 of them are located along Barak Basin, Biswajit informed the House.

Plans are also afoot to install windmill power generators at Phangrei, Gunpi, Tingkai Khullen, Willong, Liyai Khunou, Thanga and Dzuko valley, Biswajit added.

Labour and Employment Minister Th Radheshyam while discussing a demand pertaining to his department said that there are three units viz Labour, Craftsmen Training Institute and Skill Development under the department, and the department functions in compliance with 26 different Acts.

Labour cess amount for around four years was utilised by the Government.

Nonetheless, the Government has deposited around Rs 27 crore in the account of Manipur Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board for the welfare of workers.

One per cent should be deducted from all development funds as labour cess and the same should be deposited in the account of Manipur Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board.

Workers identified by the board and who possess labour cards would get scholarship for their children and their spouses would be given skill development training, Radheshyam said.

Moreover, registered labourers would get pension after attaining 60 years.

If any labourer dies in accident, his/her family would get Rs 5 lakh and if they suffer injuries, they would be given monetary assistance based on the degree of injury.

But issuance of labour cards would be based on certificates given by contractors/companies recognised under the Manipur Building and Other Construction Workers Act.

Tribal Affairs and Hills Development Minister N Kayisii said that no benefit of any scheme has been given to any beneficiary so far.

He clarified that there is no distinction between tribals living in the hills and those settled in the valley.

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