DA raised by 7 pc; CM details projects, achievements
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR

Imphal, December 31 2024: Chief minister N Biren has announced that the Dearness Allowance (DA) for the state government employees shall be increased by 7 per cent from 32 to 39 with effect from January 1, 2025 .

He also called upon the people of the state to sort out differences for a peaceful and progressive Manipur, as before May 3, 2023.Addressing the media at the CM's secretariat here on Tuesday, Biren said that around 500 youths shall be provided residential skills in Delhi for cabin crew placements in Air India and Indigo, under the financial assistance of ministry of tourism with priority given to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) .

Under Chief Minister's Entrepreneurship Support Scheme (CMESS) to provide assistance to the IDPs, collateral free loans of up to Rs 50,000 will be provided.

The government has already provided the scheme to around 426 IDPs for support, he said and called for more applications.

DA raised by 7 pc; CM details projects, achievements

The Start Ups in the state, funded by the state government, which are running successfully will employ IDPs in their enterprises.

Around seven Start Ups have been identified who are ready to employ 432 IDPs, he added.

Under One Family One Livelihood scheme, loans up to Rs 10 lakhs with 30 per cent subsidy shall be provided to 5000 targeted beneficiaries, including 745 beneficiaries shortlisted and nine already provided loans.

CM Biren also confided that the state government in collaboration with Alliance Air is introducing additional flights for one year effective from January, 2025.The route for the flights is Imphal - Guwahati; Imphal - Kolkata; Imphal - Dimapur, which shall fly two times a week.

He added, the ticket price will be kept under Rs 5000 and the government will bear the excess amount if the price exceeds the stated amount.

He also announced the extension of Chief Ministergi Hakshelgi Tengbang (CMHT) and Chief Minister's College Students Rehabilitation Scheme for one year for the IDPs.

Starting January, 2025, the government will be providing 23 of commonly prescribed cancer drugs free of cost in all district hospitals, he declared, adding that the Aadhaar linked birth registration service will soon be launched in three districts.

The new-born's Aadhaar will be generated linking it to mother's Aadhaar and updated every 5 years, to.

enable the government to capture children's data from birth, provide accurate demographic data and easy access to government schemes.

This will help the state in long term to protect the indigenous population, he exuded.

Around Rs 70 crore have been sanctioned for construction of 60 -bedded State Mental Hospital under PM DevINE and work has started while around Rs 104 crore has been sanctioned for the Super Speciality Healthcare (Infrastructure and Equipment) project in 5 District Hospitals including Ukhrul, Chandel, Tamenglong, Senapati and Jiribam.

Under the Chief Minister's Teachers Achievement Award, awards will be given yearly to maximum 50 primary teachers, 30 graduate teachers and 25 lecturers.

The award will be in.

the form of 'double the annual increment' to shortlisted teachers, and shall begin implementation in the year 2025, he added.

The CM also announced that a Society for management of Model Residential Schools will be set up for its smooth functioning.

These schools will provide high quality and affordable education in minority areas.

Around 13 Model Residential Schools are being constructed in 11 districts under PMJVK Scheme.

Mentioning about the electrification of left-out households, the CM stated that the Saubhagya scheme will cover 36,972 left out households for which around Rs 224 crore have been sanctioned.

Under PM Surya Ghar - Muft Bijli Yojana, the government is facilitating rooftop solar for residential homes at subsidised rates, he said and encouraged the public to register and apply on the portal to avail benefits of the scheme.

For the welfare of the working women in the state, the government has initiated construction of working women hostels, to help the working women live with quality and dignity, he added.

On confirming that Ukhrul district does not have any properly functioning de-addiction centre, the government will construct a rehabilitation centre in the said district, he added.

The government is committed to providing good quality roads to the public.

Thus, rigid pavement or concrete roads for Imphal City shall begin shortly with a project cost of Rs 3300 crore.

Under CRIF, an amount of Rs 314 crore has been sanctioned for construction of 92 numbers of roads.

He also informed that portion of IT road from Dailong to Palong, from Leisan to Mahadev, Wabagai Lamkhai to Sugnu, Sagolmang via Lamlong Bazar will be constructed soon under RIDF at an estimated cost of Rs 250 crore.

Plantation of Oil Palm will be expanded to about 9000 hectares in Imphal East, Thoubal, Kakching and Jiribam districts, informed the chief minister, while announcing that 5 cold storage units will be set up at project cost of Rs 10 crore.

Biren further stated that due to high demand for the training of Veterinary Field Assistant (VFA), training capacity will be increased and a hostel will be provided soon.

He further stated that the government will be developing a polo ground with provision of gallery at Ibudhou Marjing with project cost of Rs 30 crore, development of Langthabal Konung at an estimated cost of Rs 25 crore and Maharaj Gambhir Singh Museum estimated to cost Rs 40 crore.

The CM stated that with the formation of the BJP-led government in the state, the law and order situation improved considerably.

The government acted as a bridge between the insurgent groups and the Central government for initiation of peace talks with Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) and the Pambei-led United National Liberation Front (UNLF) .

He further maintained that to secure National Highways (NH), additional 17 companies of security forces have deployed along the Imphal-Mao section of NH2 with 18 companies manning the NH 37 (Imphal-Jiri) .

He also informed that 3112 arms and 2551 explosives looted during the crisis have been recovered, 625 persons arrested and around 12,247 First Information Report (FIR) registered.

Through the government's endless efforts, a total of 2058 displaced families (7,549 persons) have been able to return to their original place of residence, said the CM, adding that the government has released Rs 30 crore for distribution of Rs 1000 per person to those taking shelter in relief camps.

For relief camp operations a total of Rs 280 crore has been released till date, with the government having granted compensatory package of Rs 32 crore for the affected farmers.

Weekly medical check-ups are done in all the relief camps and 18,911 visits have been made so far during which essential drugs were provided to the camp residents.

For education of the students in the relief camps free admission in government schools and colleges has been facilitated whereas for those studying in private schools, the government has provided 50 per cent of the expenses.

Under the support for employment and livelihood programmes, the government has given priority to the relief camp residents as they could not find suitable work to support their livelihood, noted the CM.

He also disclosed that the government has procured 40 bulletproof vehicles, 8 Mine Protected Vehicles and heavy weapons (MMG) to counter heavily armed militants.

Police personnel posted in the periphery areas will get additional incentives, he declared.

The CM also said that the government has initiated the Chief Minister's Coaching Scheme for Entrance Exams to Professional Courses (Engineering JEE and Medical NEET) to empower students of Manipur get enrolled into professional courses.

Biren said that several flagships schemes including CM Shotharabasinggi Tengbang, CM Widow Pension Scheme, Ima Nongthangleima Yaipha Tengbang Scheme, CM Hakshelgi Tengbang, CM Artiste singgi Tengbang had been taken up.

Reflecting on ongoing projects including Lamphelpat Water body Project, Unity Mall, DM University infrastructure development, football grounds with natural grass, residential complex in Langol, etc., he announced that the Civil secretariat, infrastructure support to traditional arts institutes and new police headquarters will be inaugurated soon.

He also said that the government spent Rs 45 crore to distribute roofing sheets to around 50,000 houses affected by hailstorm, and another Rs 30 crore to families affected by flood.

The CM's media briefing was also attended by ministers, MLAs, chief secretary Dr Vineet Joshi, and senior officials among others.