House passes four more demands for grants

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | July 24

The state Assembly unanimously passed four demands for grants amounting to Rs 1405,89,62,000 for the year 2017-2018 on the fourth day of the ongoing full budget session.

Today’s sitting by far is the longest sittings of all the sessions during the last 15 years. As usual the sitting began at 11 am but ended at about 9.20 pm.

The demand passed by the House during the marathon sitting includes demands No.6 transport amounting to Rs. 14,30,54,000, demands No.8 public works department Rs. 1011,17,89,000, demand No.37 fisheries Rs. 35,52,47,000 and demand No.44 social welfare department Rs. 344,88,72,000.

The demands were moved by the deputy chief minister, Y Joykumar, who is also the finance in-charge, for discussion and voting.

Motion for disapproval of policy cut was moved by the opposition bench for all the demands.

The MLAs who moved the cut motion were Y Joykishan, RK Imo Singh, K Ranjit, Surjakumar Okram, Th Lokeshwar Singh, Okram Henry, Md Abdul Nasir, N Loken, Md Fajur Rahim, AK Mirabai, Yamthong Haokip.

MLAs from the ruling bench including P Saratchandra, S Subaschandra also participated in the discussion.

Responding to queries of the opposition bench, deputy chief minister, Y Joykumar, clarified on the delay in renaming the Tulihal airport to Bir Tikendrajit was due to some technical shortcomings.

He informed the House that necessary proposal for renaming the Tulihal airport was submitted to the ministry of civil aviation. However, the process was put on hold with the ministry advising to submit the proposal with a resolution of the state assembly.

He assured that no further delay with be made adding that the matter will be finalised after consulting with the chief minister.

Joykumar said, as civil aviation is under his jurisdiction, he reportedly met the officials of the ministry and discussed about upgradation of the infrastructure of the airport to international standard.

In his clarification with regards to lack of proper traffic plan and regulation, he divulged that the present government has taken up many initiatives by constituting many committees to oversees the traffic menace and that inauguration of SP Traffic office was one such initiative.

He said that the government is also mooting on establishment of multi storied parking systems and other options like allowing registration of new vehicles only after producing proof of garage to ease congestion of traffic.

Underscoring separate pool transport system for government employees, he assured that the matter will be serious discussed.

Spelling out some of the initiative taken up by the department, he informed that altogether 400 fake license cases were detected by the department during its drive of which 13 FIRs was lodged against defaulters.

To further regulate the traffic policy, he asserted that altogether 4 driving schools have been recognized by the transport department and in addition the centre government has sanctioned Rs. 12 crores for setting up institute of driving and training research centre near Yaralpat Imphal East.

Social Welfare minister Nemcha Kipgen, in her response, said there are two types of old aged pension in the state namely Manipur old age pension (MOAP) scheme and national social assistance programme (NSAP).

Under MOAPS there are altogether 6,80,160 pensioners and 4,50,905 pensions (nearly 4 percent of the population) and the beneficiaries are selected by committee constituted by state headed by deputy commissioner concerned as chairman and elected representatives as secretaries etc.

She said to ensure transparency implementation of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) and added that 100 percent accounts have been open for the beneficiaries.

Moreover, the banks will be responsible for the payment of pension to beneficiaries and that Adhaar seeding to DBT is in progress.

Nemcha further informed that instruction has been given to DC and district social welfare officers to find out undeserving beneficiaries who have expired, or which are fake and the report for the same was asked to submit within a month.

She further said that there was no report of death of beneficiaries was registered during the past five years.

In her clarification regarding failure to supply nutrition in time to Aganwadi centres and for lactating mothers, she pointed out that sanction was stopped by the ministry concerned as no new tender was floated since 2013.

Clarifying on irregularities on construction of Aganwadi centres, she asserted that the DCs concerned of all the district have been asked to construction of Aganwadi along with photography proof and document.

Although, the DRDA is the implementing agency a committee is formed with the elected representatives as chairman to oversee construction of Aganwadi buildings.

“The local representatives has every powers to stop funding if they find that the Aganwadi centres are not being constructed as per norms”, said Nemcha.

Fisheries minister, N Kayisii, claimed that the department cannot be developed as desired with the budget provision very low. Yet, the department is trying its best to pool in funds from many sources from centre like RVKI, NFDB, NEC, new kranti mission etc, he said.

He said that the state government has submitted a memorandum to government of India seeking Rs. 213.7 crores assistance for the damaged inflicted by the recent flood. Of the total amount the state government has proposed Rs. 14.7 proposed for fisheries department, he added.

The minister further pointed out that as per guideline of government of India Rs. 8,200/hac is given as improved subsidy for fish seeds during flood loses but the state have proposed Rs 16,968/hac.

Responding to queries related PWD, the minister concerned Th Bishwajit, said that the basic shares of all the representatives will be equally taken into consideration, irrespective of ruling or opposition while preparing a plan of the department.

Informing that necessary initiatives have been taken up by the works department to meet all the requirements, he said that a proposal of Rs. 500 crores for Central Road Funds (CRF) has been submitted to the ministry concerned and is under active consideration at the Prime Minister’s office.

Noting that there is Rs. 59.55 crores inherited liabilities, he further assured that all the liabilities will soon be clear phase wise.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | July 24

The state Assembly unanimously passed four demands for grants amounting to Rs 1405,89,62,000 for the year 2017-2018 on the fourth day of the ongoing full budget session.

Today’s sitting by far is the longest sittings of all the sessions during the last 15 years. As usual the sitting began at 11 am but ended at about 9.20 pm.

The demand passed by the House during the marathon sitting includes demands No.6 transport amounting to Rs. 14,30,54,000, demands No.8 public works department Rs. 1011,17,89,000, demand No.37 fisheries Rs. 35,52,47,000 and demand No.44 social welfare department Rs. 344,88,72,000.

The demands were moved by the deputy chief minister, Y Joykumar, who is also the finance in-charge, for discussion and voting.

Motion for disapproval of policy cut was moved by the opposition bench for all the demands.

The MLAs who moved the cut motion were Y Joykishan, RK Imo Singh, K Ranjit, Surjakumar Okram, Th Lokeshwar Singh, Okram Henry, Md Abdul Nasir, N Loken, Md Fajur Rahim, AK Mirabai, Yamthong Haokip.

MLAs from the ruling bench including P Saratchandra, S Subaschandra also participated in the discussion.

Responding to queries of the opposition bench, deputy chief minister, Y Joykumar, clarified on the delay in renaming the Tulihal airport to Bir Tikendrajit was due to some technical shortcomings.

He informed the House that necessary proposal for renaming the Tulihal airport was submitted to the ministry of civil aviation. However, the process was put on hold with the ministry advising to submit the proposal with a resolution of the state assembly.

He assured that no further delay with be made adding that the matter will be finalised after consulting with the chief minister.

Joykumar said, as civil aviation is under his jurisdiction, he reportedly met the officials of the ministry and discussed about upgradation of the infrastructure of the airport to international standard.

In his clarification with regards to lack of proper traffic plan and regulation, he divulged that the present government has taken up many initiatives by constituting many committees to oversees the traffic menace and that inauguration of SP Traffic office was one such initiative.

He said that the government is also mooting on establishment of multi storied parking systems and other options like allowing registration of new vehicles only after producing proof of garage to ease congestion of traffic.

Underscoring separate pool transport system for government employees, he assured that the matter will be serious discussed.

Spelling out some of the initiative taken up by the department, he informed that altogether 400 fake license cases were detected by the department during its drive of which 13 FIRs was lodged against defaulters.

To further regulate the traffic policy, he asserted that altogether 4 driving schools have been recognized by the transport department and in addition the centre government has sanctioned Rs. 12 crores for setting up institute of driving and training research centre near Yaralpat Imphal East.

Social Welfare minister Nemcha Kipgen, in her response, said there are two types of old aged pension in the state namely Manipur old age pension (MOAP) scheme and national social assistance programme (NSAP).

Under MOAPS there are altogether 6,80,160 pensioners and 4,50,905 pensions (nearly 4 percent of the population) and the beneficiaries are selected by committee constituted by state headed by deputy commissioner concerned as chairman and elected representatives as secretaries etc.

She said to ensure transparency implementation of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) and added that 100 percent accounts have been open for the beneficiaries.

Moreover, the banks will be responsible for the payment of pension to beneficiaries and that Adhaar seeding to DBT is in progress.

Nemcha further informed that instruction has been given to DC and district social welfare officers to find out undeserving beneficiaries who have expired, or which are fake and the report for the same was asked to submit within a month.

She further said that there was no report of death of beneficiaries was registered during the past five years.

In her clarification regarding failure to supply nutrition in time to Aganwadi centres and for lactating mothers, she pointed out that sanction was stopped by the ministry concerned as no new tender was floated since 2013.

Clarifying on irregularities on construction of Aganwadi centres, she asserted that the DCs concerned of all the district have been asked to construction of Aganwadi along with photography proof and document.

Although, the DRDA is the implementing agency a committee is formed with the elected representatives as chairman to oversee construction of Aganwadi buildings.

“The local representatives has every powers to stop funding if they find that the Aganwadi centres are not being constructed as per norms”, said Nemcha.

Fisheries minister, N Kayisii, claimed that the department cannot be developed as desired with the budget provision very low. Yet, the department is trying its best to pool in funds from many sources from centre like RVKI, NFDB, NEC, new kranti mission etc, he said.

He said that the state government has submitted a memorandum to government of India seeking Rs. 213.7 crores assistance for the damaged inflicted by the recent flood. Of the total amount the state government has proposed Rs. 14.7 proposed for fisheries department, he added.

The minister further pointed out that as per guideline of government of India Rs. 8,200/hac is given as improved subsidy for fish seeds during flood loses but the state have proposed Rs 16,968/hac.

Responding to queries related PWD, the minister concerned Th Bishwajit, said that the basic shares of all the representatives will be equally taken into consideration, irrespective of ruling or opposition while preparing a plan of the department.

Informing that necessary initiatives have been taken up by the works department to meet all the requirements, he said that a proposal of Rs. 500 crores for Central Road Funds (CRF) has been submitted to the ministry concerned and is under active consideration at the Prime Minister’s office.

Noting that there is Rs. 59.55 crores inherited liabilities, he further assured that all the liabilities will soon be clear phase wise.

Read more / Original news source: http://www.ifp.co.in/item/2186-house-passes-four-more-demands-for-grants