5.6 km of border between BP 79 & 81 fenced: CM
It takes around 12 hours to cover 100 km long road in border areas: Ram Muivah
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR

Imphal, August 02 2022: While informing the assembly that around 5.6 km of the Indo-Myanmar border from Border pillar number 79 to 81 have been fenced, Chief Minister N Biren Singh said that the Ministry of Home Affairs has completed the process for fencing around 60.023 km of the border belt.

The eighth day of the morning session of Manipur Legislative Assembly began on Tuesday with speaker Th Satyabarta taking up the question hour.

Responding to a question raised by Congress MLA K Ranjit, leader of the House CM N Biren said that so far 15.6 km of the Indo-Myanmar border fencing have been completed.

He said that under the Ministry of Home Affairs around 60.023 km of fencing will be taken up.

Regarding the Indo Myanmar border fencing, both governments of India and Myanmar will jointly take up the issue, with the state government pressing for speedy resolution of the same.

Efforts will be made to ensure that Manipur's territory prior to merging with India remains unaffected, he assured.

Biren then informed that the minority in the state includes Muslim, Christian, Jain, Parsi, Buddhist and Sikh communities.

After submitting timely proposal to the Ministry of Minority Affairs, the State government has been availing various schemes like Minority Pre-Matric Scholarships Schemes, Minority Post Matric Scholarships Schemes, Minority Merit-cum-Means Scholarship Schemes and Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakaram (PMJVK) to the minorities.

Replying to the question raised by MLA Sheikh Noorul Hassan, the CM further stated that ITI Lilong, which has been established under Skill Labour, Employment & Entrepreneurship Department offers craftsmanship, carpentry, moulding & welding courses and other skill development training programmes for Meitei Pangals in the state.

Various proposals have been sent to the relevant ministry and so far, around 3611 projects totalling up to Rs 358.10 crore implemented for their welfare.

Noting the high number of Meitei-Pangal involved in illegal drug trade, the CM said that they need to be provided with alternative means of livelihood similar to those who are being weaned away from poppy cultivation.

Presently, two girls' hostels are being constructed in Keirao and Kshetrigao.

After their completion, a work shed will be built for widows of drug users to help them provide with a source of livelihood.

Responding to a question raised by MLA Kh Joykisan, CM Biren stated that the government is working for effective implementation the Manipur Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2014, such as regularisation of buildings constructed on paddy land before 2014.After the Act came into force in 2014, around 20,000 homes built on paddy land were sent notices to protect the arable lands.

A combined team of SDO, SDC, Agriculture Officer and police officer in-charge concerned is carrying out field inspections under the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act, 1960 and Manipur Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2014, and those found to have constructed building illegally have been arrested along with seizure of vehicles and machines used in the process.

The few exceptions made in the interest of the people include health centres, educational institutions and landless individuals.

Meanwhile, replying to a question raised by MLA Ram Muivah, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj minister Y Khemchand said that the construction of 103 km-long Shirui to Khayang Phungtha PMGSY road is in progress but the road stretch from Shirui to Kachouphung village is targeted to be completed by September this year.

The 103 km long road includes 6 packages with one of them being a bridge package, consisting of 4 bailey bridges.

Of the 5 packages for the road, around 70 percent of the work has been completed for 2 packages, while for another 2 packages, 60 pet cent of the work completed.

The work was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and unpredictable weather conditions.

MLA Ram Muivah then asked a supplementary question, stating that there are around 20 villages along the road from Shirui to Khayang Phungtha.

Of these, 7 villages are under the Ukhrul AC, while 13 villages are under Phungyar AC.

It takes around 12 hours to travel along the 100 km road and the last village on the road has been protecting Manipur's borders.

The local villages have a hard time travelling to Ukhrul district HQ and as there is no vehicle for transportation, it has been discussed to provide subsidized transportation in the area.

However, as there is the need for repairing the road to make it motorable, the MLA urged the government to assure the House that road work will be completed by September.

In reply to a question posed by opposition MLA K Ranjit, Labour minister H Dingo said that the present minimum wage of the labourers for 15 schedule employments was fixed on December 27, 2016, while that of 9 employments fixed on September 1, 2021.Presently, the daily wage of skilled labour is Rs 278, semi-skilled labour Rs 248 and for unskilled labour Rs 225.Under Section 3(1) (b) Minimum Wages Act, 1948, the government is to review the wages within 5 years from the date the wages were fixed or to revise the same, if needed.

Dingo then informed that efforts will be made to revise the new wages within this year and different labour organisations/bodies nave been consulted in this regard.

The Advisory Committee for revising the wages will be formed within the month of August and the wages will be increased after taking inputs from the people.

Responding to opposition MLA Surjakumar Okram's question on National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Education minister Th Basantakumar informed the House that steps are being taken up to implement the NEP-2020 in the foundational, preparatory, middle and secondary level of school education.

To provide joyful learning in the local dialect, the CM has formed an expert committee to discuss the promotion of local dialect.

As per NEP-2020 guideline, a school must have over 3000 students enrolled for becoming a multi-disciplinary college.

For this, a target has been set to establish a state multidisciplinary and skill university with 7 campuses in the hill districts.

24 government colleges will be amalgamated to the university as constituent colleges, of which 10 colleges will form a cluster college with 5 pre-constituent colleges, he stated.

Minister Th Basantakumar also responded to a question raised by MLA Abdul Nasir on Infrastructure Development for Minority Institute (IDMI) and Scheme for Providing Quality Education in Madrasas (SPQEM), stating that Chil Chil Asian Mission Higher Secondary School, Kanglatongbi is benefttted under IDMI since 2009-10.For SPGEM, the state recommended 11 Madrassa and Maktabs to the Ministry, but they were found not affiliated to the state board or CBSE.

If proper efforts are made, the benefits of the scheme could be availed, he added.

He then informed that as per official record, the total area of Lilong Higher Secondary Madrassa is 0.36540 hectare/0.9029 acre.

The number of teaching and non-teaching staff of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose Awasiya Vidyalaya, Lilong is 12 and 7 respectively, the education minister conveyed.

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