Dr Ibohalbi belittles Governor's address
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 28 2012: Governor Gurbachan Jagat's address at the March 19 opening session of the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly has failed to convince the Opposition bench with Trinamool Congress MLA Dr Ibohalbi belittling the speech as a repetition of previous sessions.

describing the Governor's address as a familiar thesis and opinion that it reflects surrendering the State's administration to the bureaucrats, Dr Ibohalbi, who is also the Trinamool Legislature Wing leader in the House raised motion of amendment against the opening day address of the Governor when the latter's address was taken up for discussion on the second day of the Assembly's second session today.

The oinam AC legislator also accused the Congress Government on its alleged failure to initiate punitive action against corrupt/guilty officials with the assertion that incompetency of the Government on the issue is due to ineffective implementation of the Manipur Government Liabilities Act.

In case an Act passed by the Assembly cannot be effectively implemented it would be prudent for the Government to minutely discuss the same before seeking approval of the legislators, suggested the MLA who also regretted that the Governor's address did not reflect suitable measures to rectify such ambiguity.

Pointing out that when the ambitious Look East Policy becomes a reality multi-national companies with investment capacity or assets near proportionate with the State's budget would be setting sight on Manipur, Dr Ibohalbi lamented that Gurbachan Jagat's statement made no mention of the impending possibilities.

Reminding that inspite of investment potential investors would be reluctant to set up base in Manipur in case the prevailing conflict situation persist, he further wished that the Governor's address had explicitly specified on Government measures to restore normalcy in this border State.

Express keen desire that the Government should have a holistic youth development policy, the MLA cautioned that patronising law-abiding citizens and contemptuous attitude against the fractious section of the society would ultimately make the all-round development goal a difficult task to achieve.

There should be a mechanism for not only the decent ones to develop but also to encourage recalcitrant youths to join the mainstream and become a part of the development process, advocated the MLA.

Contending that it is very difficult to the Opposition MLAs to meet Ministers for discussions on public welfare issues, he proposed that all positive suggestions should be acknowledged if the Government aspires to remain in the good books of the general public.

With regard to his contention that Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Act has been reduced to a farce for there are multiple job-card holders in a single family, Dr Ibolhalbi proposed that the project be overhauled for ensuring effective implementation and serve its purpose.

On the health-care issue, he suggested that State Health Policy be put in place so that adequate medical practitioners are posted at the hill district and remote area medical centres along with ensuring availability of infrastructure equivalent to those accessible in the urban areas.

Highlighting that only one hour of power supply is provided to the general public compared to some individual consumers facing debt of Rs 1 lakh or more power bills, the MLA also strongly proposed that the due amount of the consumers be waived and encourage them clear the power bill on a regular basis by ensuring regular power supply under a new and effective policy.

Joining the discussion, Nationalist Congress Party MLA from Keishamthong AC L Ibomcha informed the House that residents of Greater imphal areas have been facing acute shortage of potable water with provision of the essential item also accessible only on alternate days.

Expressing that there urgent need for preserving and enhancing water resources rather than focusing on random construction of water supply reservoirs, the MLA also called upon all section of the society to contribute their mite in the campaign for maintaining ecological balance, with the assertion that the first step towards achieving the goal would be checking unrestrained felling of trees.

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