House okays 4 demands, Agri policy in next session
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 27 2013: Along with passing of four demands by members of the House today, Agriculture Minister Md Abdul Nasir declared that efforts are on to table a Bill on Agriculture Land Use Policy in the upcoming Winter session.

The demands approved by the House included Cooperation, Agriculture, Social Welfare and Relief & disaster.

Noting increasing loss of agricultural land for other purposes, Md Nasir confided that discussions are underway with the Revenue Department to table a Bill on Agriculture Land use Policy in the next session of the Assembly.

Pointing out that in addition to the State's Agriculture Department implementing various projects to make agriculture sector a vibrant and productive one, Central Agriculture university and Indian Council of Agricultural Research have been conducting training programmes for the farmers with an aim to update them on modern method of agriculture and boost food-grain productivity, he contended that delay in release of seeds by the Central Government has had a slight impact on the State's share of the seeds.

Affirming that guidelines of the Food Security Mission are being complied with in the State, Abdul Nasir said tender has been floated for purchasing three soil testing mobile vans, Central sponsored projects/schemes are being judiciously implemented and that all possible measures would be initiated to ensure healthy relationships exist between the farmers and the Department.

Joining the debate on Social Welfare and Cooperation, Minister AK Mirabai Devi stated that child welfare committees have been put in place in all the districts to effectively tackle cases of child trafficking in addition to setting up of Manipur Protection of Child Rights Commission for which efforts are on to set up a Commission office and ensure requisite infrastructure.

Announcing Government plans for setting up 100-bedded children's hospitals in all the districts, she maintained that three rehabilitation centres for children would be established in the hill districts.

Regarding release of honorarium for anganwadi workers and helpers, the Minister conceded that the Department is faced with certain problems consequent to the Central Government delaying release of its share of 90 percent and similar lapses by the State in releasing its share of 10 percent.

Prior to 2008 the honorarium used to be borne by the Central Government, she added.

On being intimated to allocate Rs 54 crores pending amount the Central Government released a little over Rs 26 crore which will be subsequently distributed to the workers/helpers after approval of the finance department, said the Minister.

Further informing that till June this year 2954 elderly citizens who used to receive Indira Gandhi National old Age pension had expired with another 442 beneficiaries of Manipur State Old Age Pension no more within the said period, Mirabai said enrolment of fresh beneficiaries would be possible.

Under the National Family Benefit Scheme 148 beneficiaries of Bishnupur would be provided Rs 10,000 each for which relevant formalities would have to be intimated/completed by the DC, she informed.

During the discussion on Relief and Disaster Management, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh affirmed that the Government is determined to ensure egalitarian development in both the hills and valley.

There is no question of the Government discriminating against any community, he asserted.

Among the Opposition members MLAs Th Bishorjit, L Ibomcha, Dr I Ibohalbi, Th Shyamkumar, P Brojen and Samuel Risom raised posers on the day's agenda.

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