Rs 3 Cr spent so far on Covid management: CM
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, August 23 2021: In the second sitting of the 13th session of 11 Manipur Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister N Biren Singh informed the House that Rs 3 crore disbursed by the North Eastern Council (NEC), GoI for Covid management has been exhausted.

Responding to a query raised by MLA Surjakumar Okram, the Chief Minister continued that Rs 31,52,00,000 were disbursed under Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package (ECRP) for the financial years 2020-2021 and 2021-2022.Of the total amount, Rs 19,92,00,000 is for 2020-21 of which Rs 19,58,06,589 has been spent while the remaining Rs 11,60,00,00 is for 2021-2022 of which Rs 2,84,63,819 has been spent, the CM added.

Saying that another Rs 16,80,00,00 (for FY 2020-21) and 8,40,00,000 (for FY 2021-22) were allocated under State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), N Biren told the House that Rs 9,66,30,000 from the fund of the previous financial year and Rs 8,93,00,000 from the fund of the current FY have been utilised.

Of the Rs 4.11 crore disbursed under PM Cares, Rs 3.5 crore has been spent, he said and added that no fund is allocated from PM Cares during the financial year 2021-2022 .

Rs 3 Cr spent so far on Covid management: CM

The CM further stated that the State Government will furnish a white paper on Covid expenditure and management within a month or two.

Responding to another query raised by MLA Kh Joykisan, N Biren stated that the building of CHC Heirok was built under National Health Mission (NHM) by depositing money at MDS.

The building, unfortunately, was dismantled, the CM said and apprised the House that the State Government will soon start a departmental inquiry to look into the case of CHC Heirok.

On Covid, the Chief Minister informed the House that a total of 1,739 COVID-19 positive patients and 38 post COVID-19 related deaths have been reported till August 20 .

The Chief Minister also said that technicians will be recruited to operate the oxygen plants in the State.

He also informed the House that the Cabinet will consider rehabilitating the family of late Jamadar Waikhom Ronald who succumbed to COVID-19 during election duty in the next sitting.

The Chief Minister while replying to another question raised by MLA Md Fajur Rahim, said that the Government will not spare anybody involved in the misappropriation of fund meant for compensating the flood victims that occurred in 2017 in Thoubal.

He further stated that the fund was deposited in 2 instalments to DC Thoubal in February, 2019 and March, 2020.MLA Joykisan Singh, on the other hand, urged the Government to raise the honorarium of ASHA workers.

Meanwhile, CAF & PD Minister Th Satyabrata, while responding to MLA K Ranjit's query, said that PDS rice for July has not been released to date as the Centre released only 2831.92 MT of rice due to minimal usage of EPoS instead of 10610.65 MT share of Manipur.

The rice will be distributed to the beneficiaries shortly, he added.

Agriculture Minister O Lukhoi Singh also informed the House that 15 Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) have been formed under MOMA and MOVCD-Agriculture.

He said that these 15 FPCs were formed to boost agricultural activities in the State.

Black rice has been cultivated by 6 (six) such FPCs in the State.

During the zero hour, MLA K Meghachandra raised the issue of ongoing cease work strike of Employees Associations' demanding full implementation of 7th Pay.

He also expressed concern regarding the issue and urged the Government to take necessary steps.