Imphal, May 15: Hundreds of people turned up to take their grievances to the notice of Chief Minister N Biren on the first Meeyamgi Numit (People’s Day) held at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat today.
The Chief Minister categorically stated that no meaningful development can be achieved as long as there is a disconnect between the Government and the people.
The Chief Minister attended to as many as about 350 complaints personally and met nearly 1000 people from 10 am to 5:30 pm.
Despite bad weather, people gathered in huge numbers at the gate since early morning to get inside the CM’s Secretariat complex.
On the other hand, the CM’s Secretariat made elaborate arrangements for the convenience of the visitors.
A huge CGI-sheet roofed makeshift Mandab (hall) was constructed at the parking space located inside the complex where adequate seating arrangements, water, tea and snacks were provided to the visitors.
A medical team along with an ambulance were kept ready for any medical emergency at the complex. Among different issues, demands like appropriate compensation for agricultural land acquired for construction of Mega Tourist Circuit, Khongjom, enquiry into non-receipt of pension under Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme and pension to the former Members of Autonomous District Councils etc were highlighted and discussed.
All the visitors/groups were issued tokens having serial numbers and called in inside the newly constructed annexe building where the Chief Minister met them one by one.
Chief Minister N Biren stated that the Government decided to organise Meeyamgi Numit on the 15th day of every month in order to identify the problems and aspirations of the common people who are at the grass-roots level.
He further said that the monthly gathering was held to maintain transparency and make people understand about the various activities being done by the new Government.
The Government would listen to the grievances of the common people and study what could be done and what not, he added.
The Chief Minister informed that he would be forwarding the written representations, submitted by the people, to the Ministers and officials concerned after writing side-notes on them for necessary action.
He further said that a file of photostat copies of all the representations was also maintained in his office so that the Ministers or officials concerned may be contact-ed for follow-up action any time.
Stating that there was a massive turnout because of the wide publicity given by the media, N Biren expressed hope that misunder- standings between the people and Government would be sorted out, and loopholes on the part of the State Government can also be identified easily if such Govt-public interactions go on regularly.
Informing that he has taken the points raised by a group of differently-abled persons seriously, N Biren stated that from now onwards, physical verifica- tions and medical tests for the differently-abled persons would be done in all the district headquarters.
Maintaining that the State Government is putting in effort to solve the problems faced by the common people at the micro level, the Chief Minister said that Imphal Urban Co-operative Bank Ltd had been entrusted to do the needful including providing loans to the villagers of Kwatha to enable large scale production of Soibum (fermented bamboo shoot).
Deputy Chief Minister Yumnam Joykumar stated that he is opened to discuss all the problems and grievances of not only the people of his home constituency but all the people of Manipur.
Ministers will do what they can to address public complaints. As for those matters which the Ministers cannot address by themselves, the same would be discussed by the State Cabinet.
Works, Information and Public Relations, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Commerce and Industries, Power, Administrative Reforms and Training Minister Thongam Biswajit also met the public as part of the ‘Meeyamgi Numit’ in his New Secretariat office chamber, today.
Th Biswajit who arrived late clarified that he was late because he went to file nomination paper of BJP Manipur Pradesh president K Bhabananda for the by-election to Rajya Sabha.
The Minister said that ‘Meeyamgi Numit’ aims to bridge the gap between the public and the Government. Under the initiative, the public can meet any of the elected representatives on the 15th day of every month and air their grievances so that the Government could act accordingly, he said.
He continued that most of the issues highlighted before him today were related to lack of development in the hills and other development works in different Assembly Constituencies. The Minister met the public from around 10:30 am and continued till late in the evening.
Health and Family Welfare, Art & Culture, Law and Legislative Affairs Minister L Jayantakumar today joined the new initiative of the present State Government by freely meeting with the public at his office chamber at Old Secretariat Complex.
Around 250 visitors came to meet Jayantakumar Singh and all the visitors were given the opportunity to interact with the Minister. Officials from different departments also interacted with the Minister. The Minister also heard the grievances of the visitors and assured necessary actions.
L Jayatankumar remarked that people can highlight their problems, grievances and aspirations to the Council of Ministers without much difficulty as a particular day has been designated as People’s Day every month.
He exhorted that all disputes and controversies should be resolved through discussion and dialogue rather than knocking Courts’ doors at the first instance.
Consumer Affairs Food and Public Distribution Minister Karam Shyam also met the public as part of ‘Meeyamgi Numit’ (People’s Day) at his office at Secretariat South Block. Speaking to media persons, Karam Shyam said the decision of the Chief Minister is a noble step and it will help in ending the VIP culture in the State.
The Minister said that the day will help the elected representatives to have close interaction with the general public.
He appealed to the people of the State to take advantage of the day and meet their elected representatives, bureaucrats and top officials and express their grievances.
He also appealed to the elected leaders to extend cooperation to the Government in changing the ‘old political system’ and hoped that close connection with the public will help in bringing better governance. He also expressed the need for mass awareness against misuse of rice under NFSA. CAF&PD Department has started distributing PDS rice quota for the month of April as well as May.
“If any one has grievances or complaints against distribution of PDS rice, he or she may come to me”, Karam Shyam said.
Missing quantities of rice too have been recovered at the initiative of MLAs and the department has started distributing backlog rice quotas for four months.
The Minister today heard many grievances ranging from PDS, relief and revenue matter.
A man from Canchipur Langthabal Kunja who lost his house in a fire incident was assured further action as the Minister contacted the official concerned and was given telephonic assurance that the matter will be solved at the earliest.
Social Welfare and Cooperation Minister Nemcha Kipgen called for joint discussion in order to rectify whatever flaws the Government has. All problems and issues should be resolved through peaceful dialogue in order to restore peace and normalcy in the State.
Agriculture, Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Minister V Hangkhanlian too assured that the State Government would do anything within its capacity to address all the problems and grievances of citizens.
IFCD and YAS Minister Letpao Haokip said that he would do everything that is possible to address public complaints in consultation with the Chief Minister.
Education, Labour & Employment Minister Th Radheshyam also met the public as part of the announcement made by Chief Minister N Biren.
The Minister met more than 300 people at his residence and temporary office located at RMSA complex, Babupara.
Memoranda submitted by the employees of his departments and complaints made by the general public were attended to on the day. Listening to grievances, he said, he would try his best to reduce the problems which had been brought to his notice.
Source: The Sangai Express
