Japan unwilling to spend on MSP-phase II: Govindas
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, February 24 2013 : Minister of Commerce and Industries, Sericulture, Vety and Animal Husbandry Govindas Konthoujam has stated that Japan is unwilling to spend money on the ambitious Manipur Sericulture Project due to the prevailing conflict situation in Manipur.

Govindas, who attended a sericulture awareness campaign cum training programme organised by District Sericulture Office, Imphal West at Lamsang Assembly Constituency's Lamdeng Community Hall on Sunday as Chief Guest, observed that the people of Japan are hardworking and sincere unlike other countries receiving loan from that country.

Considering the potential of sericulture in Manipur, Japan initiated Manipur Sericulture Project (MSP) and provided a huge amount of fund.

But social unrest as well as negative result of the project has disappointed the Japanese Government and it is unwilling to spend any further fund for the second phase of MSP.

Nonetheless, taking into account of the long years of relation between Manipur and Japan, they agreed to spend Rs 394 crore for the second phase of MSP and soon the project would resume.

In the second phase of the project, irrigation facilities would be provided to beneficiaries and do all possible measures to make the project a success, Govindas said.

Stating that two Ps (Pro-People) and two Gs (Good Governance) is needed to make a better society, Govindas said that government has taken up various projects and spend cores of rupees.

However, as we failed to materialize positive results, both people and government felt dishearten day by day.

A society can have a good government only when its people are sincere, neither huge amount funds would simply go to minister and officers pockets.

The Minister pointed out that Manipur needs 500 metric tons of sericulture products but it is producing around 300 metric tons per year.

So, in order to increase the sericulture products, government should focus more on farmers and their activities and the farmers in turn should be sincere in their works.

State Sericulture Director, H Ginjamang Simte, who attended the function as a Guest of Honour, assured that the department would provide maximum training to farmers on pre and post cocoon sectors of sericulture.

In its modernization process, the department would also replace all traditional looms by solar power looms.

In the 12th plan, Sericulture department would focus on direct and indirect employment of sericulture farmers and woman empowerment to make Manipur a sericulture state, Ginjamang Simte added.

He also appealed to all the farmers to be sincere and make use of the government projects on sericulture by not disappointing government and themselves.

MLA of Lamsang, Wangkheimayum Brajabidhu Singh, who presided over the function, said that sericulture farm is like a gold mine where one can earn a lot of money.

Chairperson of Lamsang Nagar Panchayat, Aribam Thaja Devi and H Rajen, Assistant Director, Imphal West District Sericulture also attended the function as Guests of Honour.

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