War on Drugs : CM announces Rs 10 lakh reward for Ukhrul village
'Union Budget underlined vision of Atmanirbhar'
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, February 06 2021: Chief Minister N Biren Singh has announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for Peh (Paoyi) village of Ukhrul for giving a boost to the State's war on drugs by voluntarily destroying poppy plantations in the village.

Addressing a press conference held at his Secretariat today, N Biren said Peh (Paoyi) is a role model for other villages to follow and give more teeth to the Government's fight against drugs.

He added that the officials concerned of the Horticulture, Agriculture and Department of Fisheries have also been directed to visit the village and find out suitable alternative livelihood activity for the villagers.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister also lauded Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's Budget 2021-22 and said the Budget would lay the foundation of 'Ease of Living' because it has underlined the vision of an Atmanirbhar (self reliant) Bharat.

He expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for their efforts in presenting a far sighted Budget that aims at 'universal wellbeing' during the testing times of COVID-19 .

FM Nirmala Sitharaman had presented the Budget in the Parliament on February 1 .

War on Drugs : CM announces Rs 10 lakh reward for Ukhrul village :: Pix - DIPR

Stating that the Budget is a vision document for a new decade, the Chief Minister said that it underlines six pillars, viz health and well being, physical and financial capital, inclusive development for aspirational India, reinvigorating human capital, innovation and R&D (Research and Development) and 'minimum Government maximum Governance'.

Over the past six years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's governance, N Biren said, the country has reached various milestones of development which the common people of the country aspire for.

Today, India has emerged on the global stage as a proud Nation which is brimming with possibilities and abilities, he added.

Maintaining that the Budget came at a time when the world is still battling COVID-19, N Biren Singh said that the seriousness, sensitivity and alertness exhibited by India in the fight against Covid is an example unto itself that will be registered in the annals of history.

He added that India is one of the leading countries in the fight against Covid and vaccination, which is reflective of the Prime Minister's visionary leadership.

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi took oath of office in 2014, he said that his Government was dedicated to the poor.

From then on, the Government has taken a series of steps to improve the lives of the poor, the Chief Minister stated.

Under the Ujjwala Yojana, 8 crore families received free gas connections.

In Budget 2021-22, a proposal has been made to expand the reach of the scheme to 1 crore new beneficiaries, he said.

The Government has also tried to make a provision for ensuring 'One Country, One Ration Card' accessible to migrant labourers, he added.

Stating that the Modi Government, which turns every disaster into an opportunity has proposed in the Budget to take healthcare ahead as a priority concern, the Chief Minister mentioned about the increase of 137% in the health budget from Rs 94,000 crore to Rs 2.38 lakh crore.

It has shown Modi Government's alertness to the need to build a 'healthy and able India' in the face of health challenges, he added.

Further, the provisions in the Budget to meet the challenge of potable water for all reflect the Government's view on life of dignity for all citizens, the Chief Minister said and added that by setting aside a budget of Rs 35,000 crore for COVID-19 vaccine, the Government has given shape to its plan of making the vaccination drive 'unstoppable'.

In his six-year long tenure so far, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken several steps for agricultural reforms by giving priority to farmer welfare.

To ensure that farmers have access to easy credit, the Government has proposed a budgetary allocation of Rs 16.5 lakh crore, the Chief Minister said.

The Government is undertaking a series of reforms to ensure doubling of farmers' income, get the right price for their agricultural produce, avoid difficulty in selling their produce, eliminate middlemen, get loans without hiccups and avoid difficulty in selling their produce.

The historic decision to give farmers an annual sum of Rs 6,000 as Kisan Samman Nidhi is reflective of the Modi Government's farmers' welfare oriented policy.

N Biren Singh further said that the provisions to ensure every citizen gets clean water, roads to reach every village, highways expansion on large scale and making public transport easily accessible in the Budget 2021-22 are commendable.

Over the last six years, the pace of work on National Highways has risen along with the work on rural roads.

The Government has made a provision of Rs 1,18,000 crore for road transport and National Highways, he added.

Keeping both the existing plans and future requirements in mind, the Government in its Budget has made a provision of Rs 1.10 lakh crore for railways network, he added.

The Chief Minister also praised the Central Government for its broad provisions in the educational sector in the light of the New Education Policy.

The formation of Higher Education Council, establishment of new Army schools, transformation of 15,000 existing schools into model schools and the move to open new schools in tribal areas with an allocation of Rs 38,000 crore in the Budget is a laudable effort and will go a long way in transforming the schools in far-flung areas, he added.

He also lauded the Union Government for the successful steps taken towards achieving Atmanirbharta in the Defence sector to keep the security and sovereignty of the country intact.

Dependence on other countries for defence equipment has reduced and India has emerged as a 'manufacturer', he said.

The increase in allocation for the Defence sector in Budget 2021-22 is worth welcoming.

The Government's efforts towards securing its sky (air space), water and ground are appreciable, he added.

In the Budget 2021-22, the Government has proposed an investment of Rs 20,000 crore in public banks, increasing the FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) in insurance sector to 74% and making the process for Start-Ups easier.

The decision to exempt people above 75 years of age from filing IT (Income Tax) returns is a humanitarian step and the party appreciates its leadership for the decision, the Chief Minister said.

The Chief Minister also said that the Union Budget 2021-22 is for rural development, farmers' welfare, strengthening of agricultural infrastructure, future-oriented changes in healthcare, basic infrastructure improvement, improving the life of India's poor, giving new opportunities to women and youths, running businesses with energy and giving shape to the commitments of an Atmanirbhar Bharat.