Youths of Manipur reek of social rot, O Joy Singh
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, March 15 2011: A day after Manipur chief mininister Okram Ibobi Singh underscored at the floor of the House the growth story and achievements of the State initiated by the Congress led Secular Progressive Front coalition government, senior Opposition leader O Joy Singh today expressed his disagreement that all is well with the State's health as was attempted through the budget speech.

O Joy was hinting at the subterranean rot the State has been suffering behind the smokescreen of economic growth.

He was of the strong opinion that all the tribulations that have been inflicted on the State and the government have been because of mismanagement of youths of the State.

Most of the youths of the State are either lost to drugs or become anti-social elements because of depression from prolonged unemployment, he said.

Youths are supposed to be the pillar of the nation, but in Manipur the demography of youths has been reduced to a rotten population from using and abusing drugs and other intoxicants, he remarked.

He offered a practical solution: the State cabinet should deliberate and arrived at a decision to streamline a policy to curb abusing drugs by youths of the State.

The government should modernize and rationalize excise department and guns should also be made available to personnel of the department for effective control of smuggling of drugs, O Joy added.

In a reply to O Joy's concern, the chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh said that the government will explore all possible ways to address the concern raised by the opposition lawmaker.

He also appealed to all communities, societies, NGOs, elders of the State etc to extend their support in the government's attempt at curbing drug use and salvaging the youths of the State from the menace of drug abuse.

In the meanwhile, it must be said here that the chief minister today defended the reason for the government to seek supplementary grants even as the current fiscal year is nearing its expiry with deficit revenue while the budget for the next fiscal is yet to be sanction by the planning commission of India .

According to the chief minister, the money that went into the purchasing of the 3 hovercrafts procured by Manipur police from America , recruitment of village defense force (VDF) and teachers in district councils, modernization of police force, exgratias etc.

which were not forecasted by annual plan 2010-11 had increased the State expenditure.

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