Imphal, Jun 10: Chief Minister N Biren’s call for bringing the grievances of hill people to his notice on the 10th day of every month has been responded well by the masses so far.
On the second Hill People’s Day organised at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat complex today, around 800 people including village chiefs and civil society leaders representing around 260 different organisations and village authorities from all the hill districts of the State turned up to meet the Chief Minister.
N Biren personally interacted with this huge number of people, including many from far-flung and border areas, for more than five hours without any break from 8:45 am to 2:30 pm.
Like on ‘Meeyamgi Numit’, people gathered at the gate since early morning to get inside the CM’s Secretariat complex today as well.
“From the demands raised by hill people and photographs they furnished, it has been established that there are many places in the hill districts which have immense potential for tourism. One such landmark is a giant rock which stands as high as 120 feet at Tousem”, Biren stated.
The Chief Minister said that village chiefs and organisation leaders mainly put up issues concerning bad roads, drinking water, absence of playgrounds and community halls etc.
Biren said that he has been able to discover many issues and matters on Hill People’s Day and Meeyamgi Numit which hitherto remained unnoticed.
He stated that with the coming of BJP-led coalition Government in the State, people have now started showing confidence in the State administration. Even people from far-flung and interior areas like Tousem, Nambashi and Jessami etc came to meet him today, he added.
The Chief Minister further said that many people, who had been affected by the recent flash flood, had also brought their grievances to his notice. Stating that necessary follow-up actions are regularly effected by his office regarding the issues recorded on Hill People’s Day and Meeyamgi Numit, the Chief Minister said that appropriate steps are under process for around 60 per cent of the issues/complaints.
A monitoring cell has been opened to keep a close tab on the actions taken up by the Government regarding various complaints and demands raised by people, and the media may obtain copies of the action taken report from the monitoring cell. The Government would try its best level to deliver the people’s wishes and aspirations, Biren pledged.
Conveying that the proposal for a topographical -based budget had been accepted by the Central Government, the Chief Minister said that most of the problems faced by the people of hill districts can now be sorted out through recently announced Hill Area Development Programme, which would initially cover Chandel, Tamenglong and Churachandpur districts of the State.
Regarding the helplessness faced by eligible and capable youths belonging to poor families, Biren said that the Government would consider giving preference to them in Government jobs. The Chief Minister further said that a detailed project report amounting Rs 600 crore for revamping inter-village roads and approach roads had been sent to the Centre, he added.
It may be mentioned that the Chief Minister announced during his maiden visit to Ukhrul district on April 11 that the 10th day of every month would be reserved for interacting with the leaders of civil society organisations and village chiefs of hill areas. Many village chiefs who came to meet the Chief Minister highlighted the need for proper irrigation system and safe drinking water facilities at their respective localities. Many others demanded better connectivity, improved transport infrastructure and modern telecommunication facilities.
Source: The Sangai Express
