* SUMMARY LIST OF GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS  

Address by His Excellency, the Governor of Manipur, Shri Sayed Muzafffar Husain Burney to the Manipur Legislative Assembly on 1.2.1982.

Mananiya Adhyaksha Amasung Ikai Khumnaraba Membershing,

I have great pleasure in welcoming you all to the first Session of the Fourth Legislative
Assembly this year.

2. Shri Jangamlung has joined this Assembly having been elected in the Bye-election from 53-Tamenglong Assembly Constituency. I extend my hearty welcome to him to this august House.

3. The Government has accorded highest priority to the law and order situation as it is an essential prerequisite for the development of the State. It is a matter of satisfaction to all concerned that the law and order situation has shown considerable improvement. As a result, the development programmes have picked up speed. As you are aware, some misguided youths continue to disturb the law and order situation. The Army has been assisting the Civil Administration in counter-insurgency operations. The combined efforts of the Police, Army and Para-military forces have resulted in the capture of 920 extremists, including some top leaders of the outlawed extremists organisations with sizable arms and ammunitions. Another 234 members of the extremists organisations surrendered in response to the appeal of the Government to come overground and to join the mainstream of national life. They are being rehabilitated. The Naga underground activities in the North and East Districts have largely been contained and a few important Naga underground leaders have been captured. The Government is prepared to extend necessary assistance to the misguided youths to rehabilitate them. The Government is determined to curb the extremists’ activities and if such extremists receive sympathy and are harboured by citizens of the State either on account of fear or as a favour, the Government would have no option but to impose punitive fines. 

POLICE

4. In order to make police presence felt to a greater extent ten Police Out-posts have been set up on the outskirts of Greater Imphal, thus providing for enhanced security of public life and property. The Police forces have been augmented considerably with the recruitments of 60 Officers and 500 men in the Police Department. Further, action is being taken to raise one more Battalion of Manipur Rifles in addition to the existing four Battalions. The Police force has been equipped with additional transport and communications. Greater attention is being paid to the training of the Police personnel with a view to improving their working efficiency and discipline. Care has been taken to construct living accommodation for the Police personnel; and so far, 19 barracks have already been constructed in Imphal and Pangei. Provision of Rs. 5.06 crores has also been made for construction of quarters for the Police during the 6th Plan period. In view of the hazardous working conditions of the Police, the Group Insurance Scheme applicable to the Police is being enlarged so as to provide for increased Insurance cover not only in the event of death but also of serious injury or disability. Employment is also provided under the Die-in-harness Scheme to dependents of Police personnel who die while in service.

5. In the wake of the number of Jailbreaks in the Central Jail, constructed in the year 1903, considerable changes have been effected both structurally and administratively. Further, measures have been taken by the Government to improve the security measures in the Jail. Following the recent Jailbreak, on 11th January when 22 extremists managed to escape, severe action is being contemplated by the Government after due enquiry against the defaulting Officers. The service conditions of the Jail staff have been considerably improved by granting half-free ration, special casual leave, cycle allowance and O.T.As. to the subordinate Jail staff. Steps have been taken to construct a new Jail complex in the Central District at Khabeisoi and two other District Jails at Churachandpur and Ukhrul are already under construction.

REVENUE

6. The District administrations, particularly in the hill areas, are to be provided with various functional and residential buildings under the funds provided by the7th Finance Commission. Two more Sub-treasuries are being opened in the Districts soon. The Government has also been actively considering re-organise the revenue districts in the hills and valley areas after taking all the relevant facts into consideration. The Government will be in a position to implement the decisions to carve out the new units at an appropriate time. 

7. The allocation of Plan for the year, 1982-83 has been finalised as Rs. 48 crores including Rs. 5 crores for Special Schemes Crash Employment. The Government has impressed upon the Central Government the urgency to speed up the pace of development and pleaded their case for a higher allocation of Plan funds for the next financial year, i.e., during the third year of the 6th Plan period. I have no doubt in my mind that the Planning Commission will consider the request sympathetically and increase the Annual Plan allocation.

8. The Government continues to pay special attention towards the development of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes to bring about their socio-economic up-liftment. Apart from the Central allocations, a Tribal Sub-plan and Special Component Plan for Scheduled Castes are under operation. A special programme for the development of the primitive tribes has been implemented at Maram under a Centrally Sponsored Scheme. The weaker sections of the society including the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes could also take advantage of the new 20-Point Economic Programme.

TRIBAL WELFARE

9. To supplement the income in the Tribal areas, coffee plantation has been introduced in Noneh and Nungba as an experimental measure by the Manipur Tribal Development Corporation Ltd. in co-operation with the Coffee Board. Seedling and technical know-how are being provided by the Coffee Board.

Double cropping was taken up in the Khoupum valley by Manipur Tribal Development Corporation. About 250 acres of land was covered involving 250 families under double cropping programme. The total financial investment for fieldwork was Rs. 1.45 lakhs. Every farmer benefited by getting Rs. 3,200 in one season. The target for the next crop is 500 acres. 

Potato Seed Multiplication programme was taken up for the first time by the Manipur Tribal Development Corporation as a pilot project. About 93 families were selected in East and North Districts of Manipur in about 11 villages. 

Yongchak nursery was established. 15,000 yongchak saplings were distributed free of cost to Nungba area of West District for Yongchak Plantation to uplift the economy of the tribal farmers. This is a new scheme, which will be extended this year to distribute 3 lakhs saplings. 

The Tribal Development Department through the agency of Manipur Tribal Development Corporation and with the help of the District Councils undertook plantation of quick growing fuel wood trees in about 100 villages. This was a pilot project under which seeds of fast growing varieties were distributed to the villagers. The plantation was carried out in record time. The plants are reported to be doing well. It is proposed to extend this programme during the ensuing planting season also. This year the area specially selected for this work are the hills surrounding the Imphal valley, which are at present barren. The area covered during the last year was 500 acres. During the current year, it is proposed to cover 1,000 acres.

EDUCATION

10. The State Institute of Education has prepared and produced textbooks for classes I, III and VI during the year. B.Ed., Summer-cum-correspondence course was run at Imphal as a Sub-centre of the Regional College of Education , Bhubaneswar for imparting training to Post-graduate and graduate teachers of Secondary Schools. UNICEF Aid Projects were also implemented in the State to gear up the programme for universalisaion of Elementary Education in the State. For proper implementation of the Project, a survey was conducted and a new curriculum and syllabus were framed on the basis of the survey findings. It is unfortunate that some sections of the teachers belonging to the All Manipur Secondary School Teachers’ have resorted to cease work strike with effect from 12th October 1981, demanding revision of pay scales with retrospective effect. The relation between the teachers and the taught has been under strain and the academic life of the institutions has been vitiated by such uncalled for activities of the teachers. It is time that the teachers too realise their responsibilities towards the students and the society at large.

The long awaited Education Code of the Department has been approved by the Government and it will go a long way to remove a standing grievance of the teachers. The Manipur University, which has now been established, has begun its academic session with the assistance provided by the State Government. 

MEDICAL AND FAMILY WELFARE

11. So far, the State Medical Service was being manned by officers on deputation and others on ad-hoc scales of pay on the conditions of the general services. I am happy to say that the Manipur Health Service has now been constituted by the Government recently to enable the Doctors to be permanent members of the service for which they have patiently been waiting for. 

Under the Health Sector programme, the State Government has steadily improved the health coverage by adding two more Primary Health Centres, 40 Primary Health Sub-centres, two rural hospitals and upgraded one District Hospital at Churachandpur during the year. Thus, the coverage of health by the PHSC has come down to 10,000 per centre in the valley and 4,000 per centre in the hills against 23,000 in the valley and 5,000 in the hills in 1979-80.

12. Mass Education Programme for Family Welfare Service continues to receive public co-operation through voluntary contributions during the year, 1981-82 and 300 dais were trained during the year. 

In respect of the Community Health volunteers, by the end of 1980-81, 1359 Community Health volunteers were in position. Another 390 will be added in 1981-82. The Government is planning to cover all villages in the State in 1982-83 against the national target of providing one CHV for every village or a population of 1,000 by 2,000 A.D.

Mass education and motivation through wall paintings, posters, hoardings, and audiovisual media were done in the Family Welfare Programme. 

AGRICULTURE

13. Coming to the performance of Agriculture and allied sectors, the mainstay of our economy, we are striving to achieve self-sufficiency in food production and employment generation simultaneously. In spite of the vagaries of nature and water scarcity, about 61,000 hectares were brought under High yielding varieties of paddy. This will be increased to 66,000 hectares by the end of this year. The State, one of the few in the country, has adopted training and visit system of Agriculture Extension Administration, which takes care of all farmers and provides improved agricultural methods and techniques of production by transferring knowledge from laboratory to land. For the first time, protein rich local kind of pulse, broad beans known as the “Hawai Amubi” have been included for extensive cultivation in the field, apart from the high yielding paddy varieties, namely, “Punshi” and “Phouoibi”. A large area in the hills too has now been brought under economic plantation. The Manipur Plantation Crops Corporation has started plantation of tea in Jiribam and Coffee with the assistance of the Indian Coffee Board and the North Eastern Council. As wet cultivation is not possible in those areas and also to do away with the Jhuming system as practised in the hill areas, the Government has been currently considering implementation of 16 selected horticultural schemes like rejuvenation of vegetable development, expansion of fruit preservation, walnut cashew nut, mushroom, spices, citrus development schemes and disposal of all the products through the established channels. 

FOREST

14. The Forest Department is tackling the problem of deforestation, soil and water conservation as well as providing industrial woods by carrying on plantation of selected species of valuable timbers. 

Under the scheme of economic plantation, an area of 1,320 hectares was successfully planted with valuable timber species like teak and pine. An area of 75 hectares had been planted with rubber and 40hectares with coffee. Under Social Forestry, an area of 295 hectares was planted with various fast growing fuel and fruit bearing trees on wastelands.


LOCAL SELF GOVERNMENT

15. Under urban development, the Sixth Plan for Manipur provides for construction of one thousand houses in Greater Imphal area and one thousand in the hill areas at the rate of 200 houses in each District Headquarter; these houses will be given to individuals including Government employees, ex-servicemen and weaker sections of the society on hire-purchase basis. Out of this, 89 houses and one commercial complex are proposed to be constructed by the Planning and Development Authority at Imphal during 1981-82. A provision of Rs. 40 lakhs for utilisation by State Government during 1980-85 on matching basis for Integrated Urban Development of small and medium towns is already available. Chandel and Kakching towns have been selected for improvement under this scheme for which Rs. 5 lakhs have been provided for utilisation in 1981-82 and Rs. 6 lakhs in 1982-83.

For development of towns, the Moirang Small Town Committee has already been upgraded to Municipal Board and Thoubal Small Town Committee is also being upgraded. Action has also been taken to hold elections to a number of Small Town Committees.

REVENUE & EXCISE

16. Thirteen additional Circle Offices will be opened during the year, 1981-82. Under the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act, about 150 hectares of surplus land has been acquired and will be settled with the landless agriculturists. As part of the reforms measures, survey in the hill areas has been continuing.

Six additional Excise Outposts have been opened in the State and 3 more retail outlets along with one bonded ware house were given licences. All these measures yielded additional revenue.

FISHERY

17. The need for ensuring supply of fish to the Manipuri society need not be emphasised. With the increase in population, the need for increased production of fish locally has been felt. Therefore, the Fisheries Department has taken up 13 different schemes such as production of improved varieties of seeds, conversion of derelict water areas for piscicultural purposes, etc. The Department also maintains one Fish Seed Farm in each District Headquarter and one commercial Fish Farm each at Waithou and Takmu. In addition to these, there is a reservoir at Khoupum producing appreciable quality of table fish. Besides these, under A.R.D.C. and N.C.D.C. schemes financial assistance continues to be extended to individuals and co-operative societies.

SOCIAL WELFARE, ARTS AND CULTURE

18. The Social Welfare Department was expanded by adding the Arts and Culture Unit from the Education Department since 1980-81. The Department has been running 5 Family and Child Welfare Projects besides extending grants-in-aid to Balwadies Health inputs and work. In addition to the Functional Literacy Programmes for adult women taken up in the Integrated Child Development Service Project areas, Rural Functional Literacy Projects have also been implemented with cent percent financial grant from the Central fund for eradication of illiterate persons who were belonging to the deprived sections of the community in the State.

One women’s hostel has been constructed at Imphal in order to provide accommodation to different categories of women viz, destitute, infirm, aged women who have been divorced and neglected by their husbands; Production-cum-training centre will also be provided to the inmates and other women.

Keeping with the spirit of the year 1981, International Year of the Disabled Persons, 3% of the posts in classes III and IV have been reserved for the physically handicapped persons. 

An Art Gallery had been opened to the public in the auditorium of the Museum. Works of eminent local painters and other Indian artists, manuscripts and art pieces were also on view. The caves of Tharon in west District and Khangkhui, Hundung caves in East District were surveyed by Archaeology Department. The exploration at Tharon resulted in discovery of Stone Age in Manipur. 102 antiquities were discovered.

Various Cultural troupes of Music, Dance and theatre were sent to places like Bombay, Allahabad and Delhi to encourage our artists and project Manipur’s rich cultural heritage. A few tribal cultural and theatre groups were also encouraged to stage performance outside the State.

POWER

19. The critical Power position in Manipur was partially improved with our being able to draw power from Assam from July, 1981 – with the commissioning of Loktak-Mao 132 KV transmission line, 132 KV Sub-station at Yurembam and 33 KV Sub-stations at Yurembam, Iroisemba and Leimakhong. Upto the middle of January, 1992 around 8.3 lakhs Units of electrical energy with a maximum demand of 5.3 MW of power were drawn from the Assam system via Dimapur 132 KV Sub-station in Nagaland and the same has been distributed covering most of Greater Imphal. Negotiations with the Assam State Electricity Board are also on to enhance the quantum of power upto 10 MW and also decrease tariff rate until such time the Loktak Hydro Electric Project is commissioned, as expected by December, 1982. Meanwhile, the Department has commissioned 12.5 MVA at 123-KV sub-station at Yurembam.

Out of the on-going 4 Micro Hydel Schemes, (1) Lokchao Micro Hydel of 400 Kilowatt capacity at Tengnoupal district and (2) Nungsangkhong Micro Hydel Scheme of 1,500 Kilowatt capacity at East District are in advance stage of progress and they are expected to be completed by the end of 1982-84. There are two other on-going schemes and investigation for two other Hydel projects are going in progress.

In regard to rural electrification, 19 villages have been electrified upto December, 1980-81. Upto the end of December, 1981, 352 villages so far have been electrified. Works are in progress in other 31 more villages to be electrified very soon.

A Master Plan for electrification of all the villages in rural areas for a period of 6 years, or so, is being drawn up by the Department with the assistance of the Rural Electrification Corporation. This Corporation has also sanctioned two other schemes for establishment of a linemen’s training centre and another for transformer repair workshop for distributing transformers. 


INDUSTRIES

20. During 1980-81, the number of Small Scale Industries units functioning in the State increased from 1,904 to 2,204 and is likely to increase to 2,504 by the end of the current year. From handlooms alone, 11 lakhs metres of cloth were produced during 1980-81 and it is anticipated that 14.5 lakhs metres of cloth will be produced in 1981-82. Besides, during 1981-82 construction of three medium industries, namely, (1) Starch and Glucose factory, (2) Cement factory and (3) Sugar factory and Distillery plant has also been started.

For development of Sericulture Industry, a sum of Rs. 1 crore was provided in the year, 1981-82. During the year 8 (Eight) Tasar Seed Centres were set up and 8 (Eight) Extension Farms were established mostly in the hill areas. For development of Scheduled Castes, one Mulberry Farm was established. 25,000 Kgs. of silk yarn of different varieties were produced during the year under report.

The Weights and Measures Law and Regulations under statutory provisions of the Standard of Weights and Measures Act, 1975 (Central) were enforced. Regular and surprise visits to important trading premises and marketing centres were carried out. As a result, vendors have started using standard Weights and Measures.

ROADS AND BUILDINGS

21. During 1980-81, an additional road length of 169 Kms was constructed and the total road length was increased to 3,302 kms, 1,508 kms surfaced and 1,794 kms unsurfaced, and is to increase to 3,385 kms by the end of this year. Besides, in 1980-81, 33 more villages were connected by road. Thus, the total number of villages connected by road was increased to 982 and is to increase to 1,026 by the end of the current Plan.

The P.W.D. has also finalised planning of multi-storied buildings within the Greater Imphal areas and additional multi-storied type of residential accommodation will be constructed in the Langol Hill area. During 1981 important multi-storied buildings such as four-storied extension of the Imphal Circuit House, four-storied 2nd phase of the New Secretariat and four-storied Directorate Complex, for Minor Departments has been taken up. The multi-storied buildings for the Hon’ble Ministers and M.L.As at Babupara will also be completed at the beginning of the new financial year. 

A.N.P. AND R.D.P.

22. The Applied Nutrition Programme covered 22 Blocks in 1981-82, out of which 6 are in the valley and the remaining 16 in the hills. In order to associate the rural women with developmental activities and to enable them to function as instruments of social change by providing them with programme in which they will have a stake or sustained interest, such as improving their productivity or income and to reduce unemployment among rural youths, the Women and Children’s programme have been taken up. 

Associations of women workers, Gram Sevikas were given job course training for 6 months at the Training Institute for women established for the purpose. Other trainings like Craft Training (Tailoring, Embroidery, Knitting, Reeling and Dyeing )were also introduced. 400 persons were so far trained. 

Under the Directorate of Rural Development there are 26 Development Blocks covering 6 Blocks in the Central and 20 in the Hill Districts. Schemes under the (1) Agriculture, Minor Irrigation and Reclamation, (2) Animal Husbandry, (3) Rural Arts, Crafts and Cottage Industries, (4) Education, (5) Rural Health and Sanitation and (6)Communication have been completed. Construction of wells, tanks, roads and irrigation channel under Rural Works Programme have also been taken up.

FCS

23. The Food and Civil Supplies Department has been able to make arrangement for procurement of steel materials for various Departments of the State and has already received 7,000 tonnes of steel material till December 1981. Some steel rods are being procured by the Department for public distribution also.

The Manipur Whole Sale Co-operative Society, the State nominee for lifting and distribution of imported edible oils has lifted 1,300 M.T. of imported Rapeseed oil and 700 M.T. of RBD Palm oil. As a result of the same and the grant of subsidy on the transportation of edible oils by the Central Government, the wholesale and retail prices of edible oils in Manipur has been reduced considerably. The Society has also procured wheat products from the Central pool satisfactorily and there has been no shortage of wheat so far. 

Salt and POL were made available to the public even in interior areas by opening more sub-depots. 

Adequate quantities of rice, sugar as well as GCI sheets have been procured and there is no fear of any shortage during the year under report. 

VETY. & A.H.

24. Fifteen new Veterinary Dispensaries were opened and six of the existing dispensaries were upgraded to that of Veterinary hospitals during the year. The expansion of medium sized Intensive Cattle Development programme has been improved by opening 20 new Sub-centres for taking up massive cross breeding programme in the hill areas. Under the Poultry and Piggery programme, the State and District level farms were expanded for meeting demands of chicks and pig lings. 

Self-employment oriented schemes like rearing of pigs, poultry and cattle have been taken up and 40 ex-underground extremists were self-employed through the scheme in collaboration with the Rehabilitation Directorate.

The Department expanded the existing Fodder Production Farm by the establishment of 10 plots of ½ acre each of fodder demonstration centres. 

CO-OPERATIVE

25. The Co-operative movement was started in Manipur in the year, 1947-48. Since then 2,945 Co-operative Societies of different types have been registered up to date, of which mention may be made of the Primary Agriculture Credit Societies, Weavers’ Co-operative Societies, Consumers’ Co-operative Societies and State Co-operative Bank, etc. During the Co-operative Year of 1981-82, the Manipur State Co-operative Bank Ltd. advanced crop loan to the tune of Rs. 132.78 lakhs to members of Gram Panchayat Level Multipurpose Co-operative Societies (GPLMPCS) and Large Size Multipurpose Co-operative Societies (LAMPS) for seasonal agriculture. In the field of distribution of essential consumers, articles rapeseed oil and palm oil worth of Rs. 202.48 lakhs were distributed through the Manipur Whole Sale Co-operative Society to the general public. The State Handloom Co-operative Society is also playing a vital role in supplying yarn to the Primary Weavers’ Co-operative Societies and marketing their finished products. 

LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

26. A special cell has been opened in the Employment Exchange at Khuyathong for physically handicapped persons and two Employment Exchanges at Kangpokpi and Thoubal were opened during the year, 1981-82. Another Employment Exchange is being opened at Jiribam during this financial year. 

PUBLIC HEALTH ENGINEERING

27. The past experiences of drought and subsequent failure of monsoon have drawn the attention of the Government to the serious shortage of water supply faced by the people. Till the Multipurpose Projects as Singda and Thoubal are completed, the present scarcity of water would continue. 

The newly set up Public Health Engineering Department has been pressed into service to quickly provide drinking water to the urban as well as rural areas of the State during the International Decade for Water Supply and Sanitation commencing from 1981.

The Government has been making strenuous efforts to provide adequate drinking water to all segments of the population. In the urban sector, the Plan is for augmentation of water supply in Greater Imphal areas and also for water supply in the small towns. The water supply capacity for Imphal city was 5.20 MGD as supplied by Kangchup Water Supply and augmentation scheme of Chinga, Minuthong, Porompat, Canchipur and Koirengei. On completion of augmentation scheme like Singda and Ningthempukhri schemes by 1983 and Leimakhong Water Supply by 1985, the capacity will be raised to 10.20 MGD. In respect of the other towns, the schemes for Kakching, Nambol and Moirang were completed and those of Thoubal, Bishenpur and Churachandpur are being augmented. Other small towns are being covered under rural water supply schemes. 

In the rural areas, stress is being laid on supply of drinking water to problem and difficult villages. The Government has been able to identify 34 such “problem” villages in 1980-81. An additional 210 villages is expected to be covered in 1981-82.

Efforts have been made to investigate ground water survey in feasible areas indicated by the Central Ground Water survey Team. Efforts are being made to implement the schemes and projects as early as possible to ease the problem gradually.

IRRIGATION AND FLOOD CONTROL

28. The Sekmai Barrage Project has been commissioned on 25 January 1982. It will provide irrigation facilities to about 1,000 hectares of land with the potentialities of providing such facilities to another 8,000 hectares when the project is completed. 

Work in Thoubal Multipurpose Project, Khuga Multipurpose Project and Singda Project is in progress. The Imphal Barrage is being commissioned shortly. The Loktak Irrigation Project is now ready to provide irrigation facilities to 10,000 hectares. A Master Plan for flood control is under preparation after investigation.

PUBLICITY AND TOURISM

29. The Department of Information and Public Relations has been functioning as a liaison between the Government and the people. As a part of cultural exchange programme, the Department sponsored cultural teams to participate in the ‘Rongali Bihu’ at Gauhati and the Inter-State cultural Programme at Calcutta. Manipur participated in the International Trade Fair held at Delhi from November 14 to December 4. The Manipur pavilion was declared as the best pavilion and was awarded a gold medal by the Indian International Trade Fair authority.

In the second phase of construction, more beds are being added to the present Tourist Lodge, Imphal. The ITDC and the State Tourism Department have taken preliminary action to construct a Three-Star Hotel and a Youth Hostel to meet the growing needs of tourists at Imphal for which site has already been selected. 

SPORTS

30. The Government has taken various steps for creation of a climate to foster sports talents and providing necessary facilities. Hon’ble Members will be glad to know that three of our girls represented India in the 4th Asian Women’s Football Championship held at Taiwan and another two girls in the World Cup Football Championship held at Hong Kong. Two boys also participated in the World Junior Hockey Tournament at Hong Kong. The contingent from the State secured ten championships and six runners-up and bagged 13 Gold, 9 Silver and 19 Bronze medals in different disciplines in the national events. The Government of Manipur hosted the North Eastern Region Basket Ball Tournament and the 5th junior National Handball Championship at Imphal. 

31. Before I conclude my lengthy deliberations, I intend to add that there is an urgent need to tackle the law and order problem with the co-operation of all sections of the people. It has hindered the efforts of the Government to mobilize resources, particularly land revenue which will, in turn affect the progress of implementation and expenditure on account of Plan. 

32. Hon’ble Members, I place before you the achievement of the Government and the broad lines adopted by the Government. Based on the past experience, we would look forward to speedy implementation of the development Plans. I hope the co-operation of all the Hon’ble Members and the public will be forthcoming in full measures. 

33. I wish you all success in your deliberations and in the discharge of the onerous responsibilities placed on you by the people. 


JAI HIND