The House assembled at 11.00 am of Friday, the 24th June, 2005 in the Assembly Hall with the Hon’ble Speaker 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 Chief Minister made a reply to Starred Question No. 725, asked by  Shri Erabot Yumkham, MLA regarding the  inspection of Bir Tikendrajit  Bhavan, New Delhi.           

(b)       Hon’ble Chief Minister made a reply to Starred Question No. 726, asked by  Shri N. Bihari Singh, MLA regarding the setting up of Imphal East Fire  Service Station.           

(c)       Hon’ble  Minister (Education)  made a reply to Starred Question No. 727, asked by  Shri N. Sovakiran Singh, MLA regarding the implementation of Mid-Day  Meal Programme.           

(d)       Hon’ble Chief Minister made a reply to Starred Question No. 728,  asked by  Shri M. Nilchandra Singh, MLA  regarding the Committee of Loktak  Development Authority.           

(e)       Hon’ble Minister (Health) made a reply to Starred Question No. 729, asked by  Shri N. Bihari Singh, MLA regarding the infrastructure of J.N. Hospital. 

            Answer to Starred Question No. 730 was laid on the Table of the House.           

CALLING  ATTENTION: 

            (i)        Shri L. Ibomcha Singh, MLA called the attention of the Chief Minister on the reported exodus and voluntary retirement of Doctors from RIMS. He expressed apprehension of the closing down of RIMS, one of the biggest institutions in the North East. He said that adequate security cover should be given and the state government should request the doctors and experts not to leave. He drew the attention of the Chief Minister and said that though   RIMS is not a state institution, the state government should seriously consider the matter since law and order was within its purview. 

            Shri O. Ibobi Singh, Hon’ble Chief Minister replied that it was unfortunate that insurgent groups were trying to loot such institutions. He said that it was the duty of the government to protect the life and property of the people. He sought the cooperation of the people to tackle insurgency problem. He made an earnest appeal to all not to harm such institution in future. He said that necessary security and protection would be provided to the doctors of RIMS. 

            (ii)       Shri O. Joy Singh, MLA called the attention of Home Minister on the reported confrontation between the A.R and NSCN(IM). Quoting a series of press reports of confrontation between Assam Rifles and NSCN (IM) and the setting up of designated camps inside Manipur, he said that NSCN (IM) was violating the ground rules of the ceasefire agreement and creating havoc through tax collection and other harassments on the two national highways, which are the economic lifelines of Manipur. He said that the Manipuri people were a victim of the ceasefire agreement between the NSCN (IM) and the Government of India. He further stressed the need to convince the Ceasefire Monitoring Group and the Central Government for maintaining ground rules of the ceasefire agreement. 

            Hon’ble Chief Minister replying to the motion said that setting up of designated camps or free movements by NSCN (IM) or any unlawful organisation was not allowed inside Manipur. The issue of tax collection or extortion on the national highways by NSCN (IM) had been placed before the Centre on several occasions, he informed the House and added that the opening of a railhead at Imphal was being pursued with the Centre. 

            On a point raised by Shri O. Joy Singh that NSCN (IM) had been providing shelter to some unlawful organisations flouting ground rules of the ceasefire agreements, the Chief Minister said that the Home Ministry was informed of the matter verbally and also in writing. 

            Dr. M. Nara Singh (Chairman) suggested that a delegation of both the Ruling and the Opposition  MLAs approach the Centre on the issue after the current session. 

DISCUSSION ON GOVERNOR’S ADDRESS: 

            Shri M. Bhorot Singh, MLA raising amendment to the Motion of Thanks to the Governor’s Address said that despite appeals being made to the insurgent outfits by the Government for laying down arms no concrete efforts were taken up to bring them to the negotiating table and  that the Chief Minister should make necessary arrangements for it. He urged the Government to frame a clear-cut policy including rehabilitation package for bringing the insurgents to the mainstream. 

(Hon’ble Chairman, Dr. M. Nara Singh adjourned the morning session at 1.10 p.m. till 2.10 p.m. of the day). 

(The afternoon session resumed at 2.10 p.m. with the Hon’ble Speaker, Shri T.N. Haokip in the Chair). 

            Shri M. Nilchandra Singh, MLA raising amendments assented that the Governor’s Address lacked direction of policy which left room for corruption and misappropriation. The state  Vigilance Department is defunct because of failure in detecting fake appointment and other irregularities, he added. No policy was mentioned in it for solving the problem of inadequate supply of electricity and drinking water and also for reviving the commerce and industries in the state, he pointed out. He also suggested to the government to make negotiations with the insurgent groups with proper policies. He pointed out that the Address fails to mention policy of economic growth for improving the quality of life of the public.  

            Dr. Nimaichand Luwang, MLA  raising amendments observed that the wordings of the Address needed a change. Thrust areas were not mentioned in it, he asserted. He pointed out that the address didn’t mentioned a clear cut policy to end insurgency in the state because it lacked involvement of an emissary in negotiation. Vigilance Commission’s recommendations were not implemented by the State Government, he alleged. He said that no policy for rooting out of corruption was mentioned  in the Address. 

            Shri L. Ibomcha Singh, MLA moving an amendment observed that the Government failed to negotiate with the insurgent groups because of absence of an emissary. He suggested to set up a task force for controlling power thefts which causes recurring power cuts. No policy was framed for checking insurgency and the PDS was completely controlled by insurgent groups, he alleged. 

            Shri I. Hemochandra Singh, MLA raising amendments expressed view of streamlining the law and order situation from the top level. He said that there was no vision on the Governor’s Address for emotional integration of the hills and the plains. Policy of development works were lopsided more in the rural and hill areas than the urban areas, he alleged. He observed the view that the Capital Project may be shifted to some other more suitable areas in Imphal East or so. 

            Shri S. Ibohal Singh, MLA participating in the debate lamented that the Governor’s Address lacked vision and determination. It mentioned no policy for improving the law and order situation, he observed. To wipe out the deficit if the state, resource mobilisation must be made from Transport, Power, Excise, State Lottery, etc., he suggested. He said that the state administration lacked transparency and accountability and there were lapses on the part of the government regarding the fake appointments. A balanced development across the state through equitable distribution of development schemes both in the hill and plain was the need was the need of the hour, he stressed. 

            Chief Minister, Shri O. Ibobi Singh, replying to the discussion on Governor’s Address, clarified that both Central and State Government were leaving no stones unturned trying to solve the insurgency problem in Manipur. The financial position of the state, he said, would certainly improve after the 12th Finance Commission award. He also informed that his government was giving maximum effort to prevent leakages of resources and tap them to the maximum inorder to improve the financial condition of the state. The on-line lottery, he informed, had stopped because selling of tickets was prevented in other states. He further expressed hope that some of the ongoing Minor Irrigation Project could be completed soon. Clarifying to the issue of fake appointment, he said that the Cabinet had decided the cases to the CBI. The government, he said was also examining the possibility of shortening the SEGP loan application process and also not to seek fresh applicants for next year’s loan but select from this year’s applicants. He further informed that the upcoming overbridge at Keishampat would had four lanes. He also clarified the site for the Capital Project was selected after considering various aspects like communication, security etc. He finally appealed to all the movers of the amendment to the Governor’s Address to withdraw and allow the Motion of Thanks to pass.  

            Shri M. Bhorot Singh, MLA sought further clarification and the Hon’ble Chief Minister gave clarifications. 

            Amendment Motions to the Motion of Thanks to the Governor’s Address was withdrawn and the Motion of thanks to the Governor’s Address was passed unanimously.  

PRIVATE MEMBER’S RESOLUTION: 

            Shri O. Joy Singh, MLA  moved a Private Member’s Resolution for creating a Legislative Council for Manipur. In order to have a credible government, he said, the administration should be maned by the experts and intellectuals. Such a system, he pointed our, was necessary in small stated of the North East, particularly in Manipur, where Parliamentary form of government was losing ground due to the strong presence of undemocratic forces. Socio- economic change for the benefit of the people was the objective of democracy but North Eastern States had regional imbalance and economic disparity he said and added that in order to strengthen democracy in the region, setting up of a Legislative Councils in the North Eastern States and in Manipur, specially, was the need of the hour. Reminding of a similar resolution which was passed unanimously on 14-09-1989 during the tenure of R.K. Joychandra Singh as Chief Minister, he appealed to all the members to pass the resolution unanimously with certain amendments in the operative part. 

            Dr. Nimaichand Luwang, Shri M. Nilchandra Singh and Shri L. Ibomcha Singh, MLAs supported the resolution and  Shri Th. Tomba Singh, MLA  expressed some reservation. 

            Shri Th. Debendra Singh, Minister (Law & Legislative Affairs) replying to the discussion on the Private Member’s Resolution, expressed that the present government had anticipated such a requirement and therefore the ongoing Capital Project had a special place for the Legislative Council. He also accepted that Manipur though a small state, had numerous problems and inorder to solve these problems participation of experts and luminaries from all sections of society in the administration was extremely necessary. But since setting up Legislative Council require a resolution of the State Assembly, he expressed the hope that the resolution be passed by the House. 

            The House passed the following resolution unanimously: 

“This August House, therefore, has  unanimously resolved that the Legislative Council of the State of  Manipur be created by the Parliament under Article 169 of the Constitution of India”.  

            Hon’ble Chairman, Dr. M. Nara Singh,  adjourned the House at 5.55 p.m till 11.00 a.m of  Monday, the 27th June, 2005.