Culprits shall be arrested and punished: Biren
CM launches Housing Scheme for displaced people, says Govt wouldn't intolerance crime
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR
Imphal, November 09 2023:
Stating that the people are well aware of the state government's intolerance towards any crime, chief minister N Biren Singh, with reference to the ethnic violence, asserted that culprits, regardless of their location, will be arrested and punished accordingly.
He also informed that the central government along with Home Ministry is monitoring the situation in the state round the clock.
The CM on Thursday launched the 'Permanent Housing Scheme for the displaced people whose houses had been burnt down and damaged' due to the on going violence during a solemn programme held at the Chief Minister's Secretariat, here.
He also handed over financial assistance for construction of permanent houses to some select beneficiaries from Imphal East, Kakching and Bishnupur districts under the scheme.
An amount of Rs 10 lakh, Rs 7 lakh and Rs 5 lakh for construction of damaged or burnt down pucca houses, semi-pucca and kutcha houses respectively, will be provided to more than 4800 beneficiaries across the state.
The financial assistance will be provided in two instalments.
Beneficiaries can apply for second instalment through the deputy commissioners concerned by submitting the photographs of the construction done using the first instalment amount.
Speaking on the occasion, CM Biren informed that the government under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi had spent an amount of Rs 399.82 crore on six-month instalment basis for providing different types of relief assistance to individuals and families, who have been affected by the violence which broke out on May 3 this year.
Out of the said amount, Rs 11 crore had been utilised on setting up Manipur IT Centre for Exam, Rs 4.5 crore on providing television sets to various relief camps, Rs 150 crore in construction of prefabricated houses, Rs 101 crore in relief camp management for six months and Rs 89.22 crore on providing nutrition and winter preparedness, including breakfast for children in relief camps.
Presently, construction of 150 prefabricated houses at Kanglatongbi have been completed and ready for moving in, while another 400 at Yaithibi Loukol is nearing completion.
Constructions at Keithelmanbi and Churachandpur will also be completed as soon as possible, he conveyed.
He continued that the state government had already provided financial assistance of Rs 1000 each to people staying in relief camps for the second round.
Labour card holders in the relief camps have also been provided with Rs 5000 each as assistance for education of their children.
He also said that the government has begun the process for providing beds to the displaced people with the onset of winter season.
Informing that an amount Rs 476 crore has been proposed to the central government for various other relief measures including Rs 6 crore for second round of monetary assistance of Rs 1000 each to people staying in relief camps, Rs 360 crore for Permanent Housing Scheme, Rs 108 crore as second instalment for relief camps' management and another Rs 2.5 crore for buying cycles for girls staying at relief camps, CM Biren hailed the Prime Minister and the union home minister for providing timely assistance.
Mentioning that the central government and the Ministry of Home Affairs are monitoring all activities happening in the state round the clock, the chief minister contended that the government would not remain as mere spectator or tolerate any crime committed by anyone.
He then urged the people to refrain from violence and instead bring up their grievances verbally, so that it could be solved through constitutional measures.
The chief minister also appealed to the public to join hands and cooperate in the government's efforts to restore peace in the state.
Regarding the incidents of gunfights over the past few days, he said that mass search operations are being conducted in both the hills and the valley, with recovery of weapons every now and then.
No one is allowed to possess illegal weapons, he asserted, while informing that some suspects have been arrested in connection with missing case of two teenagers.
However, as the matter is under investigation, it would be premature to make any comments beforehand, he stated.
Concluding his speech, CM Biren informed the displaced people, whose houses were burnt down and damaged, to visit office of the DC concerned and avail the financial assistance for construction of their houses under the scheme.
So far, 4800 houses are confirmed to have been burned down but the numbers are likely to rise to 5000 while exact number for the hill districts is yet to be confirmed.
He further informed that the DC offices already has a verified list of beneficiaries, while advising families without manpower for construction works, to take assistance from District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) by requesting their respective DCs.
The launch programme was attended by ministers Thongam Biswajit, Yumnam Khemchand, Govindas Konthoujam, Dr Sapam Ranjan, Heikham Dingo and Khashim Vashum; PDA chairman and Keirao MLA Lourembam Rameshwor Meitei; MLAs K Robindro, Kh Ibomcha, Thongam Shanti and Usham Deben; chief secretary Vineet Joshi, security advisor, DGP, DCs, SPs, senior government officials and beneficiaries among others.