Ex-MP Behring questions Govt's development policy
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 30 2021: Former MP BD Behring has raised questions on BJP-led state government's development policy especially with regard to Chandel district.

In a statement, Behring noted that NITI Aayog selected 115 districts from across India as 'Aspirational Districts' with Chandel the lone district in Manipur included among the selected list.

These districts were selected as 'Aspirational District' in order to bring about improvement in sectors like health, nutrition, education, basic infrastructure, financial inclusion, skill development and agriculture, etc.

While observing that the public deserve to be made aware on what development steps have been taken in Chandel district and they have no knowledge about .the criteria, he suggested that the government place on record number of schemes taken up or planned to be taken up in the district as well as progress of the works taken up.

Behring pointed out that the Ima Market at Japhou Bazar constructed by Manipur Police Housing Corporation in 2018 was inaugurated by the chief minister on January 16, 2019 and handed over t'o the DC Chandel and Chandel Autonomous District Council CEO/ADC.

However, even after over two years, the market is yet to see any trade activity.

The former MP also asked the government to clarify on non- completion of the G+1 building constructing which as transit accommodation for teachers and medical staff began in 2019, science laboratory and two toilets under RMSA and MSDP which began in 2018 and G+1 Tribal Boys Hostel at Chakpikarong Higher Secondary School constructed under Tribal Development Department but stopped after completion of the ground floor.

Even though Maha Union Higher Secondary School has a total of 373 students enrolled, the infrastructure remains far from being satisfactory as there is no watchman, computers, science graduate teachers, pre-primary teacher, science laboratory, auditorium, etc.

The vocational class room constructed under RMSA in 2015 and extension of two class rooms under Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan which began in 2019 are also incomplete, he noted.

BD Behring mentioned that students and public of the district want opening of courses of Commerce, Statistics, Geography, Sociology, Defence Studies and Electronics along with opening of honour/courses in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Geology at United College, Lambung, Chandel.

The public's wish also include opening of post graduate courses in Political Science, Zoology and Botany at United College, Chandel; he added.

The MP continued that as Chandel is an 'Aspirational District', permission to upgrade the present District Hospital to a full-fledged medical college was given with Lambung villagers agreeing to allot 30 acre of land but the state government is not taking any step in this direction.

The main reason the youths gave their mandate to the BJP was based on the promises given to create employment opportunity, eradicate corruption, maintain transparency in governance, eradicate poverty, etc, contrary to which the present BJP led government is unable to live up to the people's expectation, he claimed.

Behring also sought explanation from the government non-declaration of results of the TET Examination, 2019 conducted by the Board of Secondary Education, pending recruitment process of State Power Distribution Company, 2019, jemandar 2019, 200 riflemen for 10 and 11 IRB, multi-tasking staff 2019 in Education (S) Department, forest guard 2019, youth officers 2020 under Youth Affairs and Sports (YAS), various posts under Public Health Engineering Department, account assistant, drivers and peon in Treasury/Finance Department, staff for Manipur State Rural Livelihood Mission 2020, various posts in Transport Department in 2020, Directorate of Consumers Affairs, Food and Public Distribution in 2021 and appointments under the died-in-harness scheme in various departments.

It is also worth mentioning that after the BJP led government came to power encashment of bills for contract works have been stalled leaving the contractors high and dry.

The government is also unable to make timely payment of pay and pensions, new pensioners' first bill, pension revised bill and other bills for fear of incurring overdraft to the state exchequer, he alleged.

BD Behring also lambasted flouting of the Covid-19 SOPs by the government itself as thousands gather during public meetings of the BJP.

Here one can quote renowned Manipurr poet Dr Kamal who wrote Madhabi as saying, "If a thief catches a thief then who Would be the judge" .

On the issue of the recent Bill proposed by the Hill Areas Committee for amending the ADC Act, he agreed that were some procedural lapses in the process of preparing the said Bill by HAC, but the government should rectify the mistakes and see that the Bill is passed in the Assembly as it envisions accelerating development in the hill areas of Manipur.

The BJP led government headed by chief minister N Biren has been advocating the slogan 'Go to Hills' and uniform development of both hills and valley of Manipur.

"But without the development of the hills how can we say that Manipur is a developing state," the former MP said.

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