IMPHAL, February 19: The Governor of Manipur, V Shanmuganathan, assuring that every citizen of Manipur shall be getting better power throughout the day by March this year, stated that the State is working towards providing 24X7 power supply by March 2017.
The Governor was addressing the 13th session of the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly which commenced today.
According to the Governor the earlier constraint faced by Manipur was because it was drawing power through inter-state transmission line. This hurdle has been removed with the operationalisation of 400 KV D/C Transmission Line (initially charged at 132 KV) from Silchar to Imphal during March 2015.
In view of the quantum of future power demand, the state government has taken up construction of a new 400/132 KV sub-station at Thoubal Khunou, he said adding that in the past one or two years, a number of 132 KV, 33 KV power substations have been constructed and made operational in power deficient areas of the state.
He further said in order to redress the grievances of consumers, a Customer Care Centre (CCC), has been made functional for 13 months including Imphal city which dealt with pre-paid related complaints only currently, and online web portal for better service.
Of the total 3.5 lakh targeted consumers, 1.14 lakh pre-payment Energy Meters have been installed, he said.
He said in health and family welfare sector, listed among the priority list, noting the establishment of a separate Directorate for AYUSH and approval of accorded to set up nine additional CHCs (eight in Hill and 1 in valley districts), 14 PHCs (12 in Hill and two in Valley) and 155 PHSCs (153 in Hill and 2 in valley), the Governor informed that the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has approved financial assistance for setting up Level III Trauma Care Centre in three districts hospitals of Senapati, Bishnupur, Churachandpur and one level I trauma centre at RIMS.
Underscoring the achievement in the sectors in the last few years, the Governor revealed that free referral transport service for pregnant woman and infant up to one year has been launched adding that 9,649 mothers and 6,736 ASHAs benefitted under Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) scheme in the state.
Moreover, he informed that Mission Indradhanush Programme Phase I was successfully completed by achieving 85 percent while Phase II has been completed successfully upto 4th round.
He further maintained that after the recent earthquake on January 4, medical teams along with all essential medical supplies fanned out promptly and reached the affected areas all over the state within 24 hours.
Highlighting on the Law and Order situation, the Governor of Manipur, opined that the Manipur has not only able to maintain public order, but able to curb activities of UCs to a large extent with the help of Army/CPMF/AR.
He continued that to make law enforcement more efficient and effective government has introduced new technology to prevent occurrence of heinous crimes in the state especially Imphal.
To curb the activities of UG groups planting of IEDs and the menace of drug trafficking, the police has set up a Dog squad, he added before informing the proposal of a smart police station in Imphal city, the Governor said.
Video conferencing facility between Jail and online Courts in Manipur Central, Imphal and Sajiwa Jails is amongst government’s plan for modernization, he added.
In Education sector, claimed to be another priority of the Government, Governor V Shanmuganathan, has said that his Government has given special attention to provide infrastructures and amenities to schools, he said.
He said that with the vision to make secondary education of good quality available, accessible and affordable, 159 Junior High Schools have been upgraded under Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) besides having promoted several teachers of schools.
In addition, State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Manipur took a lead role in discussion and formulation of the recommendations of the state for propsed New Education Policy being drafted by the Ministry of HRD, by holding various consultation meets at the grass root level, district level and state level, he said.
He informed that the Government is undertaking infrastructural development of 20 colleges as well as vocationalisation of Education in 40 colleges under Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA).
V Sanmuganathan further revealed that Manipur Higher and Technical Education Code 2016 has been drafted in line with the UGC and AICTE norms and regulations as well as National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) assessment and accreditation to address issues of Colleges, Engineering Colleges and Polytechnics in the State run by the Government, Private or Government Aided.
Adding that approval for 10 more new Community colleges in Manipur has been received, he asserted that to enhance the quality of colleges, 13 Government colleges have been assessed and accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council and 2 Government Aided Colleges namely Don Bosco College, Maram and S Kula Women’s College, Nambol have been graded “A”. At the same time, work has been started for the one and only State Engineering College at Heirok, Thoubal district under RUSA, he said.
The much anticipated National Food Security Act, 2013, is likely to be implemented from April this year according to the V Sanmuganathan. A maximum of 24.84 lakhs beneficiaries, 87 percent of the total population as per 2011 census is expected to cover by the Act, he added.
The Governor of Manipur, stated that the Government has successfully covered 100 percent household in opening bank accounts under ‘Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana’ (PMJDY) which was launched in August 28, 2014.
For the development of border areas in the state during the year, 531 number of works have been completed and 381 new works have been taken up in the eight border blocks of Ukhrul, Chandel and Churachandpur under Border Area Development Programme with an allocation of Rs 22 crore, further said the Governor. However the nature of work has not been mentioned, he qualified.