State focuses on equitable & inclusive devt: Guv
'Presence of 60 plus UG outfits affects developmental pace in Manipur'
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, February 24, 2014: The 7th Session of 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly commenced from today with the Governor VK Duggal commended the State Government for striving to bring all round development and good governance for the welfare of the State.

In his address to the House, the Governor said that equitable and inclusive development with secular ideals has been the guiding values of the State Government.

It has impartially pursued development of the people residing in both hill and valley areas.

The Governor further observed the State economy continues to grow at a reasonably good pace.

The average growth rate of the State was about 9 percent during 2012-13 which is higher than the average of 6.5 percent registered during the 11th five-year plan.

The growth momentum is expected to continue.

In the current year, the State has a plan size of Rs.3650 crore.

As the State continues to face resource constraints, it would be the effort of the State Government to optimize the available plan resources and focus on key areas for development, he noted.

Governor maintained that several infrastructure projects are under implementation with the Special Plan Assistance (SPA) of Rs.450 crore.

New projects for establishment of IT SEZ at Mantripukhri, construction of six children homes, implementation of flood control and anti-erosion schemes for both hill and valley districts, and modernization of Wangbal Rice Research Station have also been taken up under the SPA besides the projects of health, road connectivity, power and hill development.

VK Duggal commended the State Government for striving to bring all round developmen

The State Government has been trying to secure maximum financial support from the Central Government through various sources such as Northeastern Council (NEC), Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR), Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) and Central Plan Schemes (CPS).

This year, assistance of Rs.48.02 crore was secured from the Ministry of DoNER and Rs.62.29 crore from the NEC.

The flow of funds to the hill areas ranges from 38 percent to 78 percent, he stated.

The State Government is also planning to evolve a New Land use Policy with a view to ensure development at higher and sustainable level of land based activities in all parts of the State, Governor added.

Dwelling on the law and order situation in the State, Governor VK Duggal said that Manipur has been affected by insurgent activities spread over a period of over four decades where more than 60 outfits, including factions are operating in the State.

The insurgency problems have adversely affected the development of the State.

Realizing that effective counter insurgency operations alone cannot solve the problems of insurgency and militancy in the State has invited various UG Groups operating in the State to come forward for negotiation, he said.

UPPK, URF, KCP (Lamphel), KYKL (MDF), KCP (Nongdrenkhomba) and UTLA (SK Thadou) responded positively and signed MoU with the Central and State Governments.

In all, over 450 cadres belonging to these groups have laid down arms and process is on for their rehabilitation.

Moreover, the State Government is in Suspension of Operations (SoO) with the Kuki National Organization (KNO), United People's Front (UPF), Kuki National Liberation Front (UKLF) and Pakan Revolutionary Army (PRA).

Over 2100 cadres of the SoO signatory outfits are being accommodated at 13 designated camps spread over three hill districts of Churachandpur, Chandel and Senapati, Governor noted.

He further maintained that the State Government would continue its endeavour to control insurgency and bring underground cadres into the mainstream.

Governor VK Duggal also noted that an amount of Rs.181.58 core has been provided for the year 2013-14 for implementation of various developmental schemes for assisting 2800 scheduled tribe (ST) families under income generating programmes, carrying out various social activities for 200 tribal women societies/organizations/self help groups, providing CGI sheets to 1300 ST families and post matric scholarships to 52004 ST students.

The State Government is committed to strengthening the functioning of the Autonomous District Councils for which various powers and functions have been devolved to them.

Efforts would continue to make the councils more effective by devolving more powers and functions, he asserted.

Dwelling on the consumer affairs, food and public distribution, Governor said that a total of 24.84 lakh beneficiaries (87 percent of the total State's population as per 2011 Census) would be covered under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) with the enforcement of National Food Security Act, 2013. A Regional Centre of Food Corporation of India (FCI) has been opened at Imphal on the sustained efforts of the State Government.

The construction of additional godowns having a total capacity of 11500 tonnes in all districts of the State has also been initiated by the State Government, he added.

In an effort to improve the quality of education, the State Government has opened 715 new primary schools in the un-served habitations and also appointed 1951 new primary teachers for operating these primary schools.

The Government has also urgraded 158 primary schools to upper primary schools and appointed 574 upper primary teachers for these schools, Governor stated.

Further, the State Government has upgraded 58 Junior High Schools to High Schools and the process of recruitment of graduate teachers would be completed soon, he noted.

Governor also mentioned that the State Government is giving priority to settle the long pending issues relating to seniority list and promotions of teachers and has started addressing the matter by promoting 812 primary teachers to graduate teachers.

Recruitment to the posts of Assistant Inspector, Deputy Inspector and Zonal Education Officers under Manipur Education Service are under process.

He further stated that the State would receive about 82 MW of power from the two power projects namely Pallatana Gas Power Project and Bongaigaon Thermal Project.

The Government has unbundled the Electricity Department into two state-owned functionally independent companies, namely Manipur State Power Company Limited and Manipur State Power Distribution Company Limited w.e.f.February 1, 2014.The unbundling is expected to increase to increase accountability, improve operation efficiency and reduce the current unacceptable level of Technical & Commercial (T&C) losses.

The State Government has also electrified 202 remote and difficult villages/hamlets through solar home lighting systems besides solar power supply/back up for important Government establishments such as DC Offices, SDO Offices, District Hospitals, Police Stations, Common Service Centres, night landing facility at Imphal Airport, street lighting systems etc.

under MANIREDA, Governor stated.

He also highlighted that the State Government has submitted six proposals for setting up of Infrastructure Development Projects of Industrial Estates at Imphal West, Thoubal, Bishnupur, Churachandpur, Ukhrul and Chandel.

Governor further maintained that the average productivity of rice in the State is higher than the national average.

In 2013-14, the State is poised to achieve record production of rice with an estimated production of 597.67 thousand MT at an average of 2.69 MT per hectare.

The State has been awarded "Krishi Kramman Award� by the Government of India in small state category for the second consecutive years for food grain production and agricultural productivity.

Manipur Sericulture Project is continuing in the form of Phase-II for which a sum of Rs.15 crore and Rs.1.67 crore have been provided during the current financial year 2013-14 as Central and State shares respectively under SPA, he noted.

VK Duggal also said that the State Government has taken on a 30-year lease from Bangalore Development Authority an area measuring 10, 781.62 sq metres at CA Site No.11, 5th Block, Sir Vishveshwariah Layout, Bangalore on payment of Rs.4,59,37,196 for construction of a Manipur Bhawan at Bangalore.

The construction work of Manipur Bhavan at Ulubari, Guwahati by the State PWD is completed and formal inauguration of the building would be done shortly.

Further, Governor stated that the High Court of Manipur was opened on March 24, 2013 and it started functioning from the new High Court complex at Mantripukhri.

The High Court of Manipur has disposed off 2677 cases during 2013. The construction of Imphal Sewerage Project Zone-I Project is on the verge of completion.

One Sewerage Treatment Plant, five pumping stations, all primary sewer lines (25.291 km) have been completed.

Construction of secondary sewer lines is underway at present, he noted.

Governor also maintained that the State Government has taken up improvement of 82 roads measuring 334.44 km and construction of three bridges at a cost of Rs.113.67 crore under SPA.

He further mentioned that the State has the lowest Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) of 10 in the country along with Goa whereas the All India average is 42.The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is 1.5 against All India average of 2.4.The Under 5 Mortality Rate is 12.5 against All India average of 55. The State Government has released a sum of Rs.36.38 crore as State matching share for the MGNREGS and completed 1015 works under PMGSY to provide connectivity to 407 habitations, Governor said.

He also said that the State Government is successfully implementing the Integrated Housing & Slum Development Programme (IHSDP) component of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM).

Jiribam Municipal Council was awarded Best City in implementation of IHSDP for the year 2012-13 under Northeast and Special Category States by Ministry of Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation, Government of India.

The State Government has been striving to ensure the promotion of welfare activities of women, children and old-aged persons and disabled persons among others and to improve the quality of life through accelerated economic growth, equitable distribution and provision of welfare services, especially to the weaker sections of the society, the Governor noted.

He further maintained that the State Government is taking up the Prime Minister's 15-point programme for the welfare of minorities and also striving to create a healthy IT sector by setting up an IT park at Mantripukhri.

The Government of India has agreed to provide an additional Rs.250 crore this year to advance the work of Jiribam-Tupul-Imphal railway line on the insistence of the State Government.

Tulihal Airport has also been upgraded to the status of International Airport on November 21, 2013, Governor said.

He also stated that the Government is trying to promote the art & Culture and develop tourism industry in the State.

The State Government in recognition of their individual national awards in film industry has decided to appoint two such individuals in suitable Government jobs.

Also, the State Government proposes to utilize the tourist infrastructures created by the Department of Tourism optimally by leasing out these facilities under Public-Private Partnership, Governor added.