Bharat Nirman awareness campaign begins
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, October 05 2010: Three day Bharat Nirman campaign organized by Press Information Bureau Imphal in collaboration with DAVP, Song and Drama Division Prassar Bharati, members of IMPCC and other coordinating agencies, different departments of the Government of Manipur and the Government of India began today at Loyalakpa mandop Keinou in Bishnupur District.

Inaugurating the campaign N.Mangi Singh MLA and Chairman of MANIDCO mentioned about the various programmes launched by the Government of India to give benefits to the rural masses.

"There are schemes to expand irrigated lands to enhance road connectivity to cover every nook and corner of the country where there is human habitation.

Indira Awaj Yojna exists to construct the house of the poorest of the poor." He appealed to the masses to use RTI to understand whether rules had been violated by the implementing agencies in the selection of the beneficiaries.

MANIDCO Chairman, MLA N Mangi, former Minister L Radhakishore, A Tejmani and officials after the inaugural ceremony of the Bharat Nirman Public Information Campaign at Keinou, Bishnupur district

Speaking about the Accelerated Rural Water Scheme he said everything could be manufactured except water.

Hence the importance of this scheme, which envisaged to provide drinking water to rural areas.

He also said every house belonging to the below poverty line families would get one free electricity connection, which was being assured by Rajiv Gandhi Vidyuti karan Grameen Yojna .

He appealed to the people to remain alert so that the benefits declared by the Government for the poor masses would not go to waste.

"Don't think nothing is gained by listening to the speeches made by the dignitaries.

Come out enmasse and listen to the lectures being rendered by the experts, which can be fitted into the brain" .

Stressing at length the need for carrying out duties sincerely and honestly he appealed to the anganwadi workers not to sell away the milk given to them for children to the hotels if they did they would be issuless in the next rebirth.

About the medical science he said a drastic change had been brought about and no one was suffering from small pox.

Leprosy had been eradicated.

"This is a change brought by medical science." He stressed the need for proper implementation of the Sharva Shikshay Abhiyan and mid day meal programme.

Giving the guest of honour speech A Tejmani a retired lecturer said Bharat Nirman Campaign would go a long way in making the general public aware of the benefits given by the Union Government for the rural masses.

"The campaign a component of the common minimum programme of the UPA Government at the centre attempts to understand whether the benefits meant for the people reach the target." He appealed to all those present at the function to interact with the officials and earn knowledge from them.

He regretted some amount was cut from the pensions given to the old age people.

The officials should be grilled for cutting some percentage, he added.

Giving his presidential speech L Radhakishore ex-Minister said, the general public were not aware of the various programmes launched by the Government.

"The campaign is launched to make the general public aware of all these programmes launched by the Government.

He said unless elected representatives work honestly and sincerely no Government would be successful.

"The success or defeat of the Bharat Nirman flagship programmes of the Union Government depends on the honesty and sincerity of the elected representatives.

10 percent of the central fund is spent on the NE region.

If Manipur wants to set on the path of development the central fund should be utilized properly" .

Earlier giving her welcome address Premlata Loitam MCO, PIB Imphal informed that almost all the districts of the state had been covered by the Bharat Nirman Campaign.

She said the aims and objects of the campaign were to make general public aware of the Government programmes.

Artistes of the Song and Drama division presented both the opening and closing songs.

To mark the three day campaign a photo exhibition was held, which was opened by N Mangi.

2o stalls including central and state government depts.

and SHG were also opened.

Banners depicting the Government programmes launched by the Government of India for the welfare of the rural masses were also displayed in front of the stalls.

The afternoon session of the three day Bharat Nirman campaign, which began today at Loyalakpa Mandop Keinou in Bishnupur District focused on National Rural Health Mission.

The main speaker on the topic was Dr..ARitindramohon CMO District Mission Director Bishnupur.

He said NRHM was launched in 2005 with the aim and object to provide health care to rural population throughout the country with special focuss on 18 states which include Manipur.

He stressed the need for incorporating Agri Department, PHED and Power Department to make the mission a grand success.

Patients require better food to eat, better water to drink and uninterrupted power supply to store the medicines.

He informed the gathering that there should be one Accredited Social Health Activist(Asha) for every village and health sub centre for 3000-5000 persons.

He said "there is still shortage of primary health sub-centres and community health centres in the districts.

Programmes taken up under the NRHM vary from place to place.

In certain places even sanitary and hygiene programmes are also taken up.

The earlier system of one man asking a man just about one ailment will be done away and under the new policy one man will ask about all types of ailments to a person.

The patients will be given medicines according to the nature of ailment" .

He also said, "NRHM focuses on reduction of child and maternal mortality rate and to revitalize local health traditions and mainstream.

Various committees have been formed to ensure that better quality medicines are given to the patients and also to enhance fund flow.

Doctors will be recruited to provide 24X7 medical cares to those who are in need of medical care.

Approval for repairing health sub- centres has been given.

During the interaction session the locals wanted to know about the formation of the committees to look into the programmes launched under the NRHM.

The speaker stressed at length about the introduction of insurance schemes to cover the people belonging to below poverty lines.

He said "plans are afoot to introduce the insurance scheme in the near future" .

Asked about the Doctor patient relationship, which has nosedived in the past few years, he said "the relation will improve if Doctors attend their duties regularly.

The other topic, which was brought up for discussion in the afternoon was pension scheme and the speaker was Shri L.Ibomcha Distt Social Welfare Officer, Bishnupur District.

He said pension scheme was launched to give solace to the old men and women who had no source of income.

He narrated a story how an old pensioner with the little pension regrouped all his warring sons by arranging a grand feast.

He refuted the allegation that the officials involved in giving away the pension deducted some amount from the pension money as canard and unfounded.

"The officials rejoice on seeing the old men and women getting some money.

But if there is any complaint the wrongs can be sorted by making all aware what actually pension scheme is.

The matter needs to be subjected to discussion at gram shabhas to correct once and for all the wrong if there be any" .

He said "under the Indira Gandhi National Old age pension scheme 6772 are entitled to receive old age pension in Bishnupur Diostrict.

His office has received applications from 7000 eligible persons demanding payment of pension while his office is authorized to give pensions to a few persons.

There is a huge gulf of difference between demand and supply.

Unless higher ups look into the matter the pension scheme will continue to create controversies".

Speaking about widow pension scheme he said more than 3000 widows had applied to get the benefit.

But on further investigation it was found that seven women had their husbands who were not only alive but earning huge amount of money.

He appealed to all those who recommended the list of widows for getting pension to do detailed verification of the applicants.

There is also a pension scheme for physically challenged persons.

Family benefit pension scheme has been introduced, he told.

Questions were galore that came from inquisitive persons.

That reflects the success of the public information campaign which is launched in the interior areas of the state.

Discussion on rural electrification also figured in the after noon session.

The speaker was Shri E.Tomba Executive Engineer Electricity Deptt Bishnupur.

He said "the total requirement of electricity for the district is 25 MW for which 306 transformers will be required.

The number of consumers in the district is 25,000.Attempts were made to collect revenues from the consumers but only 4.5 crores of rupees could be collected.

Total dues to be collected from the consumers including the Government offices are 25 crores, which work out to Rs 10,000 per consumer.

He appealed to the consumers to clear electricity bill in time to ensure regular power supply" .