The House assembled at 11.00  a.m. of Monday, the 14th July, 2003 in the Assembly Hall with the Hon’ble
Speaker in the Chair.

MEMBERS PRESENT:

            Hon’ble Chief Minister, 25 Cabinet Ministers, Chairman (Hill Areas Committee), Hon’ble Deputy Speaker,
9 Ministers of State and 20 Elected Members.

QUESTIONS:

(a)        In reply to Starred Question No. 314 asked by Shri S.Chandra Singh, MLA regarding the action taken for
protection of Main Road damaged by Thoubal river, the Hon’ble Minister (Works) gave a reply.

(b)        In reply to Starred Question No. 315, asked by Shri S.Gopal Singh, MLA regarding the location of
Moirang  Sub-Treasury office, the Hon’ble Chief Minister made a reply.

(c)        In reply to Starred Question No. 316, asked by Shri M.Nilchandra, MLA regarding the status of Thoubal -
Bishnupur via Mayang Imphal road and its allocation of fund, the Hon’ble Minister (Works) gave a reply. 

(d)        In reply to Starred Question No. 317, asked by Shri M.Bhorot Singh, MLA  regarding the fasting of Kumari Irom Sharmila Chanu and upto date expenditure on her, the Hon`ble Chief Minister made a reply.

(e)        In reply to Starred Question No. 318, asked by Shri I. Hemochandra Singh, MLA regarding the
construction of the Singjamei Bridge, the Hon’ble Minister (Works) gave a reply.

(f)         In reply to Starred Question No. 319, asked by Shri Y. Erabot Singh, MLA regarding the selection of
beneficiaries of BPL/AAY, the Hon’ble Minister (FCS) made a reply.

Answers  to Starred Question Nos. 320, 321, 322, 323 and 324 were laid on the Table as written replies.

INFORMATION  MADE  BY   THE  CHIEF   MINISTER:       

            The Chief Minister, Shri O. Ibobi Singh made an important announcement in the House regarding the
economy blockade of National Highways by the All Tribal Students Union, Manipur (ATSUM).

            He informed the House that the members of the ATSUM didn’t turn up for a meeting on Sunday, the 13th
July, 2003. A meeting was being slated for today’s evening to bring about an amicable settlement.He, further,
informed that stranded vehicles carrying essential commodities were being brought back to Imphal under police
escort.

ZERO - HOUR:

            Shri Thangminlien Kipgen, MLA raised a matter regarding the killings of three persons and torture of many
other villagers by Assam Rifles personnel in and around Saitu Constituency. He stressed the need of a judicial
enquiry and ex-gratia payments for the victims.

           The Hon’ble Chief Minister said that an enquiry had been underway and necessary action would be taken
accordingly.

ANNOUNCEMENT  OF  BUSINESS:
           
            Shri O. Ibobi Singh, Leader of the House announced the business of the House for the week.

CALLING  ATTENTION:

(i)         Dr. Nimaichand Luwang, MLA called the attention of the Chief Minister on the reported non-fulfilment of the package of surrenderee policy by the Government.

He alleged that proper rehabilitation was not given  to the surrenderees and the surrederee policy of the
Government was not properly implemented. Security for them was also not adequately provided as some
surrenderees had been killed, he added. Rehabilitation measures should effectively be taken up so that insurgents
could come out to the mainstream, he said.

            The Chief Minister, Shri O. Ibobi Singh in his reply refuted the allegation that there was no policy on
surrenderees and also on  their securities. Rehabilatation measures were being taken up and adequate steps for the
safety of the surrenderees were also provided, he informed the House. They were given training in various trades, he
said. They would be given service accomodation in the Home Department on first preference basis, he added.
Provisions for cash incentives and ex-gratia payment would be examined , he said on a query by Dr. Nimaichand
Luwang.

(ii)        Shri B.D. Behring, MLA called the attention of the Tribal Development Minister on the impasse resulting
from the handing over of the SC / ST  Boys’ Hostel to the Adimjati Shiksha Ashram’s Authority.

He quoted the June 6, edition of Imphal Free Press  and said that the SC/ST hostellers were asked to vacate after the Hostel was handed over to the Adimjati Shiksha Ashram’s  Authority by the Chairman, Shri Rishang
Keishing. He maintained that the Hostel was built with the Tribal Welfare Fund. He raised objections against the
restrictions made by the Ashram and suggested that the Hostel should be run by the Department of Tribal
Development. He demanded the cancellation of the terms and conditions of the handing over.

(The Hon’ble Deputy Speaker adjourned the House at 1.00 p.m. till 2.00 p.m. of the day.)

Afternoon Session resumed at 2.05 p.m.
 

Replying to the Calling Attention, Shri Ngamthang Haokip, Minister (Tribal Development) stated that the Hostel was handed over to the Ashram’s  Authority as per the agreement signed in 1991 between the State Government and the Authority of the Ashram. But the Ashrams’  Authority couldn’t make any decision without consulting the T. D. Department, he added. He further stated that when the agreement was signed, it mentioned that only students from Class XI onwards would be allowed to stay in the Hostel.

Replying to the queries of S/Shri B.D. Behring and S. Chandra Singh, MLAs, he said that the Hostel was meant for  SC/ST students

CONSIDERATION  AND  PASSING  OF  BILL:

Shri O. Ibobi Singh, Chief Minister moved:

             “ that the Manipur Appropriation  (No. 2A) Bill, 2003 be taken into consideration .”

And also moved that the Bill be passed.

             After Clause-by-Clause considerations, the Bill was passed by the House.

GENERAL  DISCUSSIONS  ON  BUDGET  ESTIMATES, 2003 - 2004:

Initiating the discussion Shri M. Nilchandra Singh, MLA stated that after analysing the Budget he could observe that there was no goal or objective. He said that no thrust area was specifically indicated and termed the Budget as just a routine Budget. Referring to the sick public sectors in the State, he said that their future was bleak with no investors coming out and added that the fate of the employees was more grim. He was very critical in the delay of taking up works already sanctioned by the Centre. He summed up with the submission that the Budget lacked vision.

            Shri O. Joy Singh, MLA participating in the discussion stated that a Budget is a mathematical expression of the Government schemes and plans. He referred to the Budget plan allocation of the successive Five-Year Plans of the Government of India since its inception and stated that due to the meager allocation of non-plan funds the development works of the state couldn’t be taken up properly. He also questioned the sincerity in utilising the allocated funds by successive governments. He said that a good Budget should give proper direction and thrust areas should be properly highlighted but the present Budget lacked all these. He categorically said that proper maintenance of law and order, a sound finance and toning up of the Government’s functioning were the three important duties of the government. But the Budget failed to reflect all these, he opined. He reiterated that the current Budget was a deficit one without any direction.

The Hon`ble Deputy Speaker adjourned the House at 3.45 p.m till 11.00 a.m of Tuesday, the 15th July, 2003.