Govt eyes free education for higher classes
CM distributes school uniforms; flags off vehicles carrying farming materials
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR

Imphal, June 25 2021: Chief minister N Biren Singh said that the government is planning to provide free education to students of higher classes too and added that such step would help to imbibe a sense of nationalism among students.

Speaking as chief guest during distribution of school uniforms for students of Government and Aided Schools of the state under the School Fagathansi Mission organised by Samagra Shiksha at its office campus located at Babupara on Friday, the CM appreciated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his serious concern for the people of the country.

He maintained that the central government has taken up certain schemes for development in health sector, farmer's welfare, education and others and added that such initiatives taken up for the welfare of the people should be appreciated rather than just criticising.

Stating that children are the foundation and pillars of society, N Biren stressed on the need to nurture and impart better education to children from the very beginning of their lives.

He further stated that for providing quality education to children, schools should have proper infrastructure, experienced teachers, better teaching and learning equipment and so on.

With this thought, the state government has come up with the School Fagathansi Mission covering 120 schools till now and such initiative would help children to become creative and bring up certain innovative ideas which would be useful for overall development of the state at large, he added.

Maintaining that Manipur is swiftly moving forward in path of development with the support of people, he said that all the communities of the state have now come forward with the sense of oneness and unity leaving behind all odds and differences.

One should try to preserve our self-identity and pride of their own community and also pay respect to others for peaceful existence, he stressed.

Informing that construction of 32 tribal museums for preserving the cultural heritage of the diverse hill communities inhabiting the state are nearing completion, the chief minister said the government is providing Rs 5 lakh each for construction of toilet and cupboard in addition to Rs 10 lakh which was sanctioned earlier for the construction of each museum.

Education minister Sorokhaibam Rajen stated the distribution of the uniforms free of cost has been taken up under Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan.

Under this scheme, students of government schools consisting of 76,185 girl students, 42,344 boys belonging to Scheduled Tribes, 2,899 boys belonging to Scheduled Castes and 27,436 students from Below Poverty Line would be provided free uniforms, he added.

He also stated that the scheme also covers distribution of blankets, sport equipment and other items to residential schools.

Minister Rajen further said that confidence of parents over government schools has gone up and thus the enrolment of students has also increased significantly with the initiatives taken up by the state government under the School Fagathansi Mission.

Stating that the government is now on its mission to improve infrastructure of government schools, he informed that the government has placed proposals to the Project Approval Board for construction and upgrade of school buildings under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan.

The minister also sought the attention of the chief minister on the need to increase the number of higher secondary schools for accommodating students which are likely to increase this year with the cancellation of High School Leaving Certificate examination.

During the programme, the chief minister also distributed items including K-Yan System (projector), sports equipment, blankets and cooking utensils among others through the Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs) of different districts.

The items will be provided to students of government schools studying in Class I to VIII.

Education (S) commissioner M Harekrishna, Education (S) director L Nandakumar, Samagra Shiksha ASPD T Phullen and officials of Education Department also attended the function among others.

On the other hand, chief minister N Biren on Friday flagged off vehicles carrying quality planting material, seeds and sprinklers sets which are to be distributed to registered farmers from Horticulture and Soil Conservation Department.

The planting materials and seeds will go directly to 50 Farmer Producer Companies while those carrying sprinklers sets will go through the district offices to be distributed as part of the component of the Micro Irrigation Scheme which is an end to end solution at their level.

The planting materials and seeds have been distributed under Phase-III Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER), Manipur while sprinklers sets are being distributed under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY, Horticulture), Manipur.

Addressing the gathering, CM N Biren stated that timely arrangement and distribution of materials required for farming and agriculture are also very much necessary while fighting the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure adequate food production in the coming year.

He also expressed happiness that 268 hectares of land where poppy plantation was widely done earlier will be replaced by other suitable plants for which seeds are being distributed today and termed it as a big achievement of the state government's War on Drugs Campaign.

He also informed that a mass plantation programme would be held in Churachandpur district on June 30 in coordination with various civil society organisations (CSOs) of the district.

Certain areas where poppy plantation was carried out earlier have now been cleared by district administration and volunteers for alternative plantation.

He also appreciated the CSOs and public for supporting the government's efforts to root out poppy plantation.

N Biren further recognised the Horticulture Department for putting in their effort in providing alternative plants to the locals and helped bring a change in the mind-set of the poppy planters.

The government will also continue to provide incentives to those who come out against poppy plantation.

He also sought support of the public in the government's initiative to provide and plant fruit bearing trees suitable to the region in place of poppy plantation which is harmful to the society.

The CM also instructed officials concerned to do field visits in continuation of the Go to Village and Go to Hills missions of the government and regularly update the work carried out by them.

The programme which was organised by Department of Horticulture and Soil Conservation was also attended by agriculture minister Oinam Lukhoi, additional chief secretary (Horticulture & Soil Conservation) P Vaiphei, commissioner (Agriculture) M Joy and MOMA project director K Devdutta Sharma.

Comment