Mail News Service
Imphal, July 13: The State Assembly today passed the Parliamentary Secretary Bill 2012 amid protests from Opposition bench. Dr I Ibohalbi said the size of ministry was reduced to check expenses and if the Bill is passed Parliamentary Secretaries equivalent to Minister of State status can be appointed by the Chief Minister. The bill does not stipulate the number of Secretaries to be appointed he observed.
Dr Ibohalbi said the bill seems to stem from the need of placating MLAs who were not given ministerial berths.
Chief Minister, O Ibobi Singh said it is a normal practise in other states and the bill was introduced to have an efficient administration. As the Trinamul MLAs opposed they staged a walk out and the bill was passed.
Manipur Appropriation No 3 Bill, Manipur Panchayati Raj Seventh Amendment Bill 2012 were also passed. During question hour Home Minister Gaikhangam informed that four persons including two personnel of Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) involved in the rape of a woman and charge sheet will be submitted soon.
Chief Minister O Ibobi tabled a paper on the Medium Term Fiscal Policy Statement, Fiscal Policy Strategy Statement, Macro Economic Framework Statement and Disclosures (July 2012) in the House.
Chief Minister further informed that there is no tourism policy for the state. He informed that the numbers of foreign tourists were around 400 during the last few years and last year it was above 600. The government of India has restricted entry of foreigners to Manipur which was relaxed for one year last year.
Home Minister Gaikhangam informed the state Assembly today that there is strong possibility of the blockade of national highway no 2 in Nagaland to be called off as all the demands of the protestors were fulfilled.
He said since July 6 the highway has been blocked to protest hijacking of a vehicle by a person from Manipur. The man was arrested and the vehicle recovered. The man and the vehicle will be handed over to Nagaland Police he further said.
Raising the matter, L Ibomcha said Manipur bound vehicles are stranded in Nagaland and there is shortage of petroleum products due to the stir in Nagaland.
Health Minister Phungjathang Tonsing in response to a calling attention motion moved by Opposition MLA Th Shyamkumar, said as per the order issued by Board of Secondary Education, Manipur in 2003, some applicants holding NIOS certificates were rejected and exluded from the recruitment process for filling up some vacancies in the state Social Welfare Department.
Tonsing also informed the House that NIOS certificates were recognized by the state education board before the year 2003 but NIOS students who had not attended regular classes and failed to maintain quality cannot be accepted now.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/accused-vehicle-to-be-handed-over-to-nagaland-police-parliamentary-secretary-bill-passed-amid-walk-out-by-trinamul-mlas/
