The fifth session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly commenced today. Governor of Manipur, Miss Anusuiya Uikey addressed the inaugural session of the sitting. She highlighted the various initiatives taken up by the government to solve the ongoing impasse and to bring the state forward in the years to come.
Highlighting the initiatives of the government to solve the crisis in the state, Governor said, the state governmenthas been working tirelessly under challenging circumstances to address various complex issues related to the present law and order situation following the violence which started on 3rd May 2023.Within the first few days, evacuation of stranded people on both sides of the conflict was taken up on war footing. During the volatile situation in the month of May 2023, Manipur State Transport Services transported over 4,000 students and stranded civilians to safer places. She said, State Security forces, 198 companies of Central Armed Police Force and 140 Column of Army have been deployed for assisting in the area domination, sanitization and maintenance of law-and-order situation in the State. The State and Central forces are deployed jointly in the periphery of sensitive villages by way of static and mobile patrolling.
While expressing her deepest condolences over the demise of 219 persons in the incidents beginning May 3rd, 2023, Governor said Ex-Gratia of Rs. 10 Lakh is being disbursed to the affected families, after due verification. Mortal remains of victims have been handed over to next of kins and last rites performed. Highlighting the relief and rehabilitation of the violence affected people, Governor said pre-fabricated houses for the families living in Relief Camps have been built. The Government also formulated a scheme for construction and repair of permanent houses which were damaged or destroyed due to the violence. Basic analysis of the damage assessment has been completed, she informed.
Students staying in Relief Centres were linked to nearby schools at no additional costs. Displaced Students were facilitated through the Deputy Commissioner for obtaining essential documents such as Marksheets, Transfer Certificates and issue of provisional Migration Certificates. Examinations were conducted with due flexibility to ensure participation of students and candidates of all Districts.
To enable displaced students to resume with their studies, the Chief Minister’s College Students Rehabilitation Scheme, 2023 was launched. Benefits of transfer to college of choice, free admission, rehabilitation grant of Rs. 10,000/- and free smartphones were provided, she said.
Governor continued that a Commission of Inquiry, chaired by former Chief Justice of High Court was constituted by the Government of India to investigate the facts leading to the genesis of the present situation. A Peace Committee was also constituted to help establish peace and harmony amongst various ethnic groups. The Government is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that justice is delivered to our sisters both in hills and valley, who are victims of sexual violence.
Government of India and Government of Manipur signed a Peace Agreement with United National Liberation Front (UNLF) which is anticipated to usher in a new era of peace, while also encouraging other armed groups to participate in peace process.
War on Drugs 2.0 started and during the year, 72.9 kg of Heroin, 147.1 Kg of Opium, 195.2 kg of Ganja, 111.3 Kg of Brown Sugar, 155.3 kg of WY tablet, 33.3 kg of Pseudophedrine tablets, were seized, amongst others. 288 cases were registered under ND&PS Act and 333 persons arrested during 2023.3,010 acres of illicit poppy cultivation were destroyed. Area under poppy cultivation was assessed for last three consecutive years covering 9 districts in the state.
Union government has decided to scrap the Free Movement Regime between India-Myanmar keeping in mind India's internal security and demographic structure of the north-eastern states. Central government also decided to construct border fence along the entire 1,643 kilometer long Indo-Myanmar border, including a patrol track for better surveillance.10 km stretch in Moreh, has already been fenced, works covering approximately 20 km in Manipur have also been sanctioned by the M.H.A.
Governor also highlighted the ongoing initiatives and the achievements made by the government on different sectors like Healthcare, Finance and Planning, Tribal Affairs, Minorities and SC & OBC Welfare, Food Security, Education, Power Sector, Agriculture and Allied Activities and Natural Resources, Rural Development, Tourism, Sports, etc. in her address.
While exuding confidence that all stakeholders and people in general will contribute towards restoration of peaceful coexistence and brotherhood among the various communities inhabited in the state, Governor said the state has always been and will continue to be a multi-cultural State, which respects the diverse identities of the State. The Government believes in taking all the people along, irrespective of their identity, in its path of development.
Speaker Th. Satyabrata Singh clarified that governor has mispronounced the word ‘chaokhatpa’ due to non-fluency of Manipuri language.
OBITUARY REFERENCE: Manipur Legislative Assembly condoled the demise of Former Governor, P.B. Acharya, 10 Former Members and a former Secretary of Manipur Legislative Assembly. Members cutting across party lines have expressed their deepest and the profound sorrow to the demise of the Former Governor, P.B. Acharya, Former Members and a former Secretary of Manipur Legislative Assembly.
The House observed 2-minute silence as a mark of respect to the departed souls. Leader of the House, Shri N. Biren Singh initiated the obituary reference stating that the untimely demise of the former Governor, P.B. Acharya, Former Members and a Former Secretary of Manipur Legislative Assembly is an irreparable loss to the state. He said P.B. Acharya was a statesman who worked to bridge the gap between the people of the North East and the mainland India. Senior Opposition member Okram Ibobi Singh also expressed his condolences to the demise of the leaders.
Later, Leader of the House moved a separate obituary reference on the demise of innocent civilians and the security personnels in the ongoing violence. The House adopted a resolution to condole the loss of lives of innocent civilians and the security personnels in the ongoing violence and observed 2-minute silence as a mark of respect to the departed souls.
BUDGET: Leader of the House and Chief Minister (in charge of Finance), Shri N. Biren Singh presented the Budget Estimates for 2024-25 (Vote-on-Account). The budget proposed a total expenditure of Rs. 34,040 crores out of the Consolidated Fund of the State. Total Revenue Expenditure is estimated at Rs. 20,246 crores and Capital outlay is estimated at Rs. 8,155 crores.
Chief Minister said the Fiscal deficit is estimated at Rs. (-) 2344 crores. This is (-) 4.45% of the GSDP. During 2024-25, the total outstanding debt as a percentage of GSDP is projected at 32%.The Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) for 2024-25 is estimated at Rs. 52,711 crores.
On Revised Estimate 2023-24, CM said, in the Budget Estimate 2023-24, total expenditure was estimated at Rs. 35022 crores. The total expenditure during RE 2023-24 has been revised to Rs. 32591 crores.Revenue receipts and capital receipts were estimated at Rs. 27547 crores and Rs. 6583 crores respectively in Budget Estimates 2023-24. This has now been revised to Rs. 23627 crores and Rs. 8000 crores in RE 2023-24 respectively. All overall receipts and expenditure figures are inclusive of Ways and Means Advances and Repayments. He continued that taking into account all receipts and expenditures, the current year is expected to have a budgetary deficit of Rs. (-) 962 crores in RE 2023-24 as against the deficit of Rs. (-) 890 crores in BE 2023-24. The fiscal deficit for 2023-24 (RE) is projected at Rs. (-) 2235 crores, which is (-) 4.91 % of GSDP.
Highlighting the various achievements and the initiatives taken up by his government, Chief Minister said this year has been one of the most challenging years that the State has faced. However, he said the Government remains committed to safeguarding the territorial integrity of Manipur, protection of the lives of all its citizens, action against anti-social and anti-national elements and ensuring the ‘rule of law’. The Government will ensure that all necessary support will be given to those who have suffered in the unfortunate events of the past few months, he asserted.
He continued, since the outbreak of unrest in the State, the Central Government has approved an amount of Rs. 400 crores for immediate relief to the State, in addition to many other forms of support. The immediate relief support includes daily rations, management of relief camps, construction of prefabricated structures, cash transfers for daily needs to inmates, nutrition and personal hygiene support etc. The State Government is in constant communication with the Central Government for additional support. The Government have supported the livelihood of those affected by taking up various livelihood generation activities, provision of skill training, support with tool kits etc. with a focus on those in the relief camps.In order to mitigate the impact of the unrest on students’ education, the State Government had taken up many steps.
In spite of various challenges faced in recent months, both in terms of resources and implementation of projects and schemes, the government have been working tirelessly to fulfill the commitment to the people, CM mentioned. The government has taken up a number of policy measures that have touched the lives of our people in many aspects like Go to Village, Go to Hills, Chief Minister’s HakshelgiTengbang, Manipur Start Up Policy, our measures have taken care of the people in many areas – from health care to supporting the entrepreneurship spirit. These programmes have supplemented the important initiatives of the Central Government including, PM Kisan, Ayushman Bharat Yojana, Skill India, Digital India, etc. It is the mission of the state government to support the initiative of the Central Government of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047.
SUPPLEMENTARY DEMANDS: Leader of the House and Chief Minister (in charge of Finance), Shri N. Biren Singh presented the Demands for Supplementary Grants for the year 2023 – 2024 amounting to Rs. 3546 crores covering 26 Demands and 2 Appropriations. He also moved the motion for vote on accounts 2024-2025.
Chief Minister also presented the 6th Report of the Business Advisory Committee.
The Hills Journal
K. Salbung, Churachandpur
Manipur-795128
