IMPHAL, February 24: The seventh session of the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly commenced today with the Governor of Manipur, VK Dugal addressing the house on the achievements of the Government.
Addressing the house, the Governor said that his Government has been striving for all round development and delivery of good Governance for the welfare of the people adding that Equitable and inclusive development with secular ideals have been the guiding values.
Shedding a light on the planning and state finances, the Governor, claimed that the state economy continues to grow at a reasonable rate and the average growth rate was about 9 percent during the fiscal year 2012-13 which is higher than the average of 6.5 percent registered during the 11th five year plan and is expected to continue.
He stated that despite the opening deficit of Rupees 371.80 crore, the fiscal year (2012-13) was closed with a deficit of only 55.37 crore. The outstanding fiscal liabilities at the close of 2012-13 were 6665 crore which constitute 56.90 percent of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). This is within the fiscal responsibility and budget management (FRBM) ceiling 60 of GSDP for fiscal liabilities.
However, he asserted that during 2013-14 the deficit is intended to contain at 4.54 percent of the GSDP as expenditure control measures are continued and further efforts to reduce fiscal burden are taken up.
Stating that the state Government has been trying its best to secure maximum financial support from the central Government through various sources such as NEC, NLCPR, CCS and CPS, an estimate amount of 48.02 crore was secured from the Ministry of DoNER and 65.29 crore from the NEC he said adding that the funds flow to the hill areas ranges from 38 to 78 percent.
Unless the fiscal position is consolidated through enhanced revenue expenditure, the long term growth prospects will deteriorate to the detriment of the future economic health of the state, he suggested.
Coming to the Law and Order situation especially the insurgency problems which is considered to be a major hindrance hampering the peace and development of the state, Governor VK Duggal, divulged that over 60 militant outfits including factions operating in the state has adversely affected the development of Manipur for over a period of over four decades.
He informed the house that realising that effective counter insurgency operations alone cannot solve the problems of insurgency and militancy his Government has invited various UG groups to come forward for negotiation.
VK Dugal pointed out that the many groups have responded positively and signed a memorandum of Understanding with central and state Governments. They includes United Peoples Party of Kangleipak (UPPK), the United Revolutionary Front (URF) consisting of various KCP Factions and its Army Wing, Manipur Army (MA), the KCP (Lamphel) and KYKL MDF, Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP-Nongdrenkhomba), UTLA (SK Thadou group) responded positively and signed Memorandum. Over 450 cadres belonging to these UG groups have laid down arms and process is on for their rehabilitation, he added.
VK Dugal, continued that the state Government is in suspension of Operations (SoO) with the KNO (Kuki National Organisation), UPF (United Peoples Front), KNLF (Kuki National Liberation Front)
and PRA (Pakan Revolutionary Army). Over 2,100 cadres are accommodated at 13 designated camps spread over three hill districts of Churachandpur, Chandel and Senapati.
In order to enable Manipur Police to effectively deal with the emerging challenges, the state Government has taken up measures with the assistance of Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India under Plan with an approved outlay of Rupees 30.45, said the Governor.
With regards to the impending National Food Security Act, 2013, VK Dugal informed the house that state Government has set a target to cover a total of 24.84 lakh beneficiaries which is 87 percent of the total population under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS). Informing that steps has taken to complete identification of the beneficiaries for early implementation of the Act, priority households will get 5kg of foodgrains per person per month and Antodaya Anna Yojna (AAY) household will get 35 Kg, he mentioned.
As an effort to sustain its target, he pointed out that FCI has opened a regional centre for Manipur at Imphal besides setting up of godowns in all the states with maximum capacity.
In tribal affairs and hills, an amount of rupees 181.58 crore has been provided for the year 2013-14 for implementation of various developmental schemes for assistaing 2,800 STs families under income generating programme, 200 tribal women societies/Self Help Group for carrying out various social activities etc
In education sector the state Government opened 715 primary schools in the un-served habitations and has appointed 1951 new primary teachers besides upgrading 158 primary schools to upper primary schools and 574 appointing upper primary teachers. Under RMSA 58 junior high schools and the process for recruitment of graduate teachers will be completed soon.
Altogether 2,36,121 students have been provided with free text books along two pairs of uniform for encouraging poor children to continue education. In addition the state government is running mid day meal programme in Primary and Upper primary schools covering 1,90,259 children of Primary schools and 42,7838 children of upper primary schools for a targeted 225 days, mentioned the Governor.
Meanwhile, he pointd out that the average productivity of rice in Manipur is higher than the national average. In 2013-14, the state is poised to achieved record production of rice with an estimated production of 59.67 MT at an average of 2.68 MT per hectare and the cropping intensity during the 2013 is estimated at 145.16 percent.
In health sector to the state registered an impressive progress with the state having the lowest infant mortality rate of 10 in the country along with Goa against the all India average 42. The total fertility rate is 1.5 against all India average of 2.4 the under 5 mortality rate is 12.5 against the all India average of 55.
Significant improvements were also mentioned in other key sectors besides setting the bar higher for more improvement in the days to come.
Concluding his speech he exhorted all to join hands and unitedly protect and preserve the territorial integrity of Manipur. besides making the state the best not only in North East level but in the entire country.