VDF honorarium
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 24 2020: Chief Minister N Biren Singh, who is also in charge of Home, has conveyed that the State Government plans to increase the honorarium of VDF personnel, who are carrying out their duties just like any other police personnel, to Rs 9500 per month.

Responding to a query raised by Wabagai A/C MLA Md Fazur Rahim during the question hour of the morning Assembly Session today, Chief Minister N Biren Singh said that ever since the honorarium of Home Guards were increased, VDF personnel became concerned about being left out as they are also performing their duties like any other police or army personnel.

Biren explained that there are certain differences between Home Guards and VDFs and added that in the case of the Home Guards, the State Government had to abide by the Court order to increase their pay as the matter even reached the Supreme Court.

However considering their duties, as well as the rising prices of commodities, the State Government plans to increase their monthly salary from the current Rs 7500 to Rs 9500, the CM assured.

On the other hand, responding to a question fielded by Thangmeiband AC MLA Kh Joykisan concerning supply of police uniforms and belts, the Chief Minister said that the State Government is considering about repeating the tender process, as there was no mention of any other manufacturers, apart from Liberty shoes and belts, in the earlier tender.

The suppliers/bidders were checked and one of the supplier was found bearing the name Liberty, a reputed brand, and as such, the supplier was given the greenlight to supply the materials, the CM explained.

At this, MLA Joykisan argued that the process of a tender consists of a technical bid and a financial bid.

If the names of manufacturers were not available during the technical bid, then it should be rejected.

However, it was not done so and raising the issue of re-tender only at the stage of financial bid was completely wrong, he claimed.

Agreeing to the points raised by the MLA, Chief Minister Biren said that the State Government only wants to ensure supply of good quality materials for its police.

He also assured that the Government will try to avoid such mistakes in the future.

Kh Joykisan then pointed out that there were errors in the process of purchasing Kilostar branded water pump sets for supply to farmers by the Minority and Other Backward Classes.

He said that it is wrong for a private individual, who is not a dealer, to supply the pump sets and it will be the right step for the Government to purchase the pump sets directly from the company.

Supporting his argument, CM Biren once again said that the Government will try to correct its mistakes in the future.

He then explained that the supply order of the water pump sets dated back to 2016 and added that after receiving and verifying 143 pump sets, a sum of Rs 82,22,500 was paid during 2018-19.During the question hour, Lilong AC MLA Md Abdul Nasir brought up the incident of a young woman from Yairipok Tulihal, whose dead body was found on January 28, and raised doubt concerning the progress of the investigation.

He also pointed out that two individuals were initially arrested and one of them was later found dead in jail.

Responding to the MLA's point, Chief Minister Biren said that the accused of the case has been apprehended and investigation is ongoing.

Pointing out that one's innocence or guilt will be determined by a Court, the CM said that the State Government is intensely monitoring the case, but it will not be appropriate to divulge all the details as the case is still under investigation.

On the other hand, replying to a question raised by Sagolband MLA RK Imo, the Chief Minister informed that there is no plan at the moment for introducing vehicles powered by Compressed Natural Gases (CNG) in Manipur.

CNG vehicles have been launched in Delhi and other cities.

CNG will reduce pollution and will be cost effective as well, the CM opined adding that the Government will look into this area properly.

Explaining that CNG does not completely eliminate pollution but only reduce it to a certain degree, Biren said that with the shift from diesel auto-rickshaws to electric ones, the State Government will see what can be done about other commercial vehicles as well.

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