Finance Commission team on inspection spree
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 21 2009: A 14 member team of the 13th Finance Commission led by its Chairman Vijay Kelkar arrived at Imphal today to assess the State's needs as well as to finalise the amount to be awarded to the State for the next five years to meet non-Plan expenditure.

The team flew in from Kohima on a BSF chopper and landed at Kangla at 10.25 am where they were received by the Chief Secretary, Principal Secretaries, DGP and other top ranking Government officials.

Finance Commission team inspecting Khuman Lampak

While the Chairman has been lodged at the Raj Bhavan, the other members are staying at Hotel Imphal.

The team visited Khuman Lampak Sports complex and inspected the main stadium, swimming pool, indoor stadium and hockey stadium.

Interacting with the visiting team, officials of the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports briefed them on the sports events held at the sports complex and opined that improving the infrastructure would be of immense benefits to the sportspersons of Manipur.

The YAS officials also briefed the team on the work taken up by the State Government to construct sports complex in the other districts.

Expressing desire that Chinese coaching be imparted to archers, the team asked the officials whether there is any problem in roping in the service of Chinese coaches.

To this the YAS officials replied that if the Federation clears it, they have no problem.

After inspecting Khuman Lampak, the team then proceeded to Kangla to oversee the works taken up there.

The team also inspected the Khunthoknganbi primary school located opposite to DM College, the Anganwadi centre at Malom Tuliyaima, Primary Health Centre at Mekola and JN Hospital.

The team discussed important points concerning the hospital with the authority of JN hospital during the interaction.

The team expressed surprise when the hospital authority informed them each pregnant woman is given a sum of Rs 200 under the Janani Suraksha Yojna scheme at the time of delivery.

Apart from inquiring about the problems faced by doctors at the hospital, the team also questioned whether they face any extortion threats.

Taken by surprise, the hospital authority said that at times they give in to such demand as the situation demands.