Imphal, Feb 2: The third session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly began on Thursday with a customary address from Governor La Ganesan and highlighted the activities and achievements of the government in the past year.
The provisional calendar issued by the Manipur Legislative Assembly secretary stated that the session will continue for till 3rd February 2023.
Addressing the House, Governor Ganesan said that the government had continued to strengthen and improve the scenario in the state. During 2022, 75 insurgents surrendered, 309 extremists were arrested and various arms, ammunitions etc. were recovered.
Giving a further boost to the peace process in the state, the Government of lndia and the State Government has entered into a cessation of operation agreement with the Zeliangrong United Front that had been active for more than a decade. With improved security scenario, 15 police station areas in six districts of the state were excluded from the Disturbed Area Notification with efiect from 1 April 2022. The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has been revoked from these areas, the Governor informed.
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The Governor further stated that to root out the menace of illegal drugs and to protect the youths and the fights against the War on Drugs during 2022, 3517 acres of illicit poppy cultivation were destroyed in different areas of the state and disposed 2567 kg of contraband drugs. Over 2,384 kg of drugs consisting of Heroin, Brown Sugar, Opium, Amphetamine, Ganja, Methamphetamine, Spasmo Proxivon and nearly 40,000 bottles of Cough Syrup were seized. 504 cases were registered under ND&PS Act and 32 persons were convicted. 84 persons were detained under PIT NDPS Act.
Pertaining to healthcare sector under Chief Minister’s Health for all program, more than three lakh persons in over 870 villages have been screened for ten non-communicable diseases through door-to-door screening. The insurance cost available for each enrolled family under CMHT has been enhanced from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh per annum. A total of over 2.04 lakh families with 6.73 lakh beneficiaries have been enrolled under CM Hakshelgi Tengbang Scheme. Over 1.30 lakh patients have benefited till date with their treatment cost of Rs. 148.9 crore borne under the scheme’, he said.
Further, the Governor added that in order to support and provide quality education to poor tribal students, three Eklavya Model Residential Schools are being established at Sapermeina, Moreh and Tamenglong.
Under National Food Security Act, the Governor also informed the House that the beneficiaries have been fully digitised in the public portal and all Fair Price Shops in the state have been automated and the Ration Cards have been Aadhaar seeded. 2,00,658 beneficiaries have benefited through free LPG connection under Ujjwala 1.0 and Ujjwala 2.0.
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The Governor further informed the House that to improve the quality, reliability and affordability of power supply, the REC Limited has sanctioned for implementation of Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme, Manipur amounting to Rs 520.61 crore, with Gross Budgetary Support of Rs 398.67 crore.
In order to reconcile records between Forest and Revenue Department, Joint Survey of 11 Reserve Forests and seven Protected Forests have been completed. Last year, 77 encroachers were evicted from various Reserved and Protected Forests. For curbing unauthorised and illegal transportation of timber, checking of illegal encroachment and other forest products, 100 guns were procured and 49 personnel trained, he informed.
Thoubal District won 2nd position in Best performing District category under Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan in lndia. A state specific guideline for registration and monitoring of private de-addiction centres was also framed. A state-run drug de-addiction centre with a capacity of 50 inmates was established at Sunusiphai, Bishnupur District. As a first of its kind in the country one dedicated drug deaddiction centre for transgender through PPP mode and two dedicated children homes for transgender through NGOs were started.
Under the Relief & Disaster Management the National Seismic Risk Mitigation Programme is being implemented to reduce the vulnerability of communities and their assets to natural disaster. Allotment of land for setting up of one Regional Response Centre of National Disaster Response Force and setting of technical demonstration unit has been finalised, he said.
Further, the Governor said that to bring transparency in the recruitment process under the Administrative Reforms the Manipur Staff Selection Commission Act, 2O22 was also notified to establish Manipur Staff Selection Commission with the mandate to make recruitments in subordinate services.
Towards developing an lT industry in Manipur, lT SEZ is being set upon over 10.85 hectare of contiguous land at Mantripukhri, equally divided into Processing Zone and Non-Processing Zone.
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District Science Centre and Planetarium at Churachandpur and Ukhrul District at a total cost of Rs 15.87 crore is targeted for completion during 2023 under the Science and Technology Department, he informed the House.
Motion of thanks to the Governor’s Address was moved by Health & Information and Public Relations minister Dr Sapam Ranjan Singh and seconded by minister Awangbow Newmai.
During the second half of the first day, obituary reference was conducted on the demise of the five former members and two former secretaries of the Manipur Legislative Assembly
Later, Leader of the House, Chief Minister N Biren Singh presented third report of the Business Advisory Committee 2023 and also the House moved and agrees with the allocation of time proposed by the Committee. Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, Chairman of the Select Committee on the Manipur Panchayati Raj (Eight Amendment) Bill, 2022 presented the report of the Committee in the House.
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