The House assembled at 11.00 am of Wednesday, the 1st March, 2006 in the Assembly Hall with the Hon’ble Speaker, Dr. Md. Maniruddin Shaikh in the Chair. 

MEMBERS PRESENT: 

            Hon’ble Chief Minister, 10 Cabinet Ministers, Chairman (Hill Areas Committee), 1 Minister of State and 45 Elected Members. 

QUESTIONS: 

            (a)       Hon’ble Minister (Education/S) gave a reply to Starred Question No. 902  asked by Shri N. Sovakiran Singh, MLA regarding the number of teachers in Zone III (Thoubal). 

            (b)       Hon’ble Chief Minister gave a reply to Starred Question No. 903 asked by  Shri Erabot Yumkham, MLA regarding the offices of the Imphal East District.           

            (c)       Hon’ble Chief Minister made a reply to Starred Question No. 894 asked by  Dr. S. Budhichandra Singh, MLA regarding the payment of ex-gratia. 

            (d)       Hon’ble Minister (I.F.C.D.) made a reply to Starred Question No. 905 asked by Shri E. Biramani Singh, MLA regarding Sekmai Barrage. 

            (e)       Hon’ble Chief Minister made a reply to Starred Question No. 906 asked by  Shri N. Bihari Singh, MLA regarding the identity of a vehicle involved in  a hit and run case. 

            (f)        Hon’ble Chief Minister made a reply to Starred Question No. 907 asked by  Shri S. Chandra Singh, MLA regarding the number of loans given under Special  Employment Generation Programme. 

            (g)       Hon’ble Minister (Education/S) gave a reply to Starred Question No. 901 asked by Shri L. Ibomcha Singh, MLA regarding the promotion to the post of A.I. & D.I.  of schools. 

            Answer to Starred Question No. 900 was laid on the Table of the House as written reply.

ZERO-HOUR: 

            During Zero-Hour, Shri B.D. Behring, MLA called the attention of the Chief Minister to give away the salaries of the state employees in view of the ensuing Yaoshang Festival. 

       Shri S. Chandra Singh, MLA called the attention of the Education (S) Minister on the irregularities in transfer and posting of Junior High School (Aided), Andro. 

           Shri L. Ibomcha Singh, MLA raised a matter on the interference of the Police Commandos on a dharna staged at Keishampat Lairembi Lampak demanding the release of L. Naobi Devi, who was in police custody. 

CALLING ATTENTION: 

            (i)        Shri N. Sovakiran Singh, MLA called the attention of the Home Minister on the non-functioning of P.H.C. office in Nongpok Sekmai due to occupation of the office building by B.S.F. personnel. Quoting the February 24th, Sangai Express publication,he expressed the inconveniences caused by it to the office staffs and the local people. He said that the PHC was totally defunct and stressed the need to shift the BSF outpost to a proper place and make it functional. 

            Shri O. Ibobi Singh, Chief Minister replying to the motion said that the BSF personnel were deployed to maintain law and order problem. He informed the House that it was a temporary arrangement and an alternative site would be made very soon. 

            (ii)       Shri I. Hemochandra Singh, MLA wanted to withdraw the his Calling Attention notice for bringing it up as a Short Duration Discussion at a convenient later date.  

            The House agreed. 

DISCUSSION ON A MATTER OF PUBLIC INTEREST: 

            S/Shri L. Ibomcha Singh, O. Joy Singh and S. Gopal Singh, MLAs raised a discussion on the non-implementation of the provisions of “Person with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995.” 

            Shri L. Ibomcha Singh, MLA said that though the Act was extended all over India, it was not properly implemented in the state. He asserted that the rules under this Act were mandatory and the government should give proper instruction for its effective implementation in the interest of the disabled persons. 

            Smt. W. Leima Devi, Social Welfare Minister strongly refuted the charge that the “Person with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995” was not properly implemented in the state. She said that Social Welfare Department was the nodal agency and other departments had been notified to make reservations for the disabled persons. She informed the House that the government was taking necessary steps to give protection and job opportunities for the disabled persons. 

            Shri O. Ibobi Singh, Chief Minister in his statement expressed the need to check if the Act was fully implemented in the various departments. He informed the House that instructions had been sent to the Chief Secretary to amend the necessary rules of the MPSC in the UPSC pattern and implement it within two months. 

ANNOUNCEMENT OF LEAVE OF ABSENCE: 

            The Hon’ble Speaker informed the House that Shri Wungnaoshang Keishing, MLA had applied for leave of the House, w.e.f. 1st March, 2006. The House granted the leave. 

GENERAL DISCUSSION ON BUDGET ESTIMATES, 2006-2007: 

            Shri R.K. Dorendra Singh, MLA participating in the discussion said that budget was monotonous and wanted it to be more concise and impressive. He also expressed the need to implement and execute the work programme keeping in view the time constraints. 

(Hon’ble Speaker Dr. Md. Maniruddin Shaikh adjourned the House at 1.00 p.m. till 2.00 p.m. of the day).

            (The afternoon session resumed at 2.10 p.m. with the Hon’ble Speaker, Dr. Md. Maniruddin Shaikh in the Chair). 

            Shri M. Bhorot Singh, MLA participating in the discussion termed the budget as anti-people and added that the Fiscal Policy lacked transparency. Regularisation of part-time lecturers against the posts which were lying vacant at present was necessary, he pointed out. Regarding taxes, he observed the need for proper collection and for restriction of tax evasion. Adequate funds need to be pumped in to the power sector to solve the problem of power shortage, he said. Further, he pointed out that the gap between the Budget Estimate and Revised Estimate need to be bridged for bringing development. 

            Shri O. Ibobi Singh, Hon’ble Chief Minister replying to the discussion said that many projects including developmental works would be taken up on a war-footing from April. Priority was given for the improvement of basic amenities, he informed. He further informed that some positive changes were expected in the Hills in particular as many projects would soon be commissioned. He said that the Tea Estate at Jiribam and the Spinning Mill at Loidang Khunou were closed down as it was economically not viable. He appealed to all concerned for proper utilisation of the Plan money and sought the co-operation of everyone including NGOs in monitoring the quality of developmental works and in checking leakages of fund.

            Hon’ble Speaker, Dr. Md. Maniruddin Shaikh adjourned the House at 2.50 p.m. till 11.00 a.m. of Thursday, the 2nd March, 2006.