The Cabinet meeting held at Kamjong decided to conduct elections to the Autonomous District Council and Urban Local Bodies.
TFM Desk
As the stage is all for the covid-19 vaccination programme in Manipur on Saturday, the cabinet on Friday decided to reopen schools and colleges for students studying in Class IX and above by observing relevant SOP from January 27. It was also agreed to conduct elections to the Autonomous District Council and Urban Local Bodies.
The decisions were taken in a Cabinet meeting chaired by chief minister N Biren Singh held at Kamjong. It was the ninth such meeting held in hill district headquarters under “Go to Hills Mission”, an official source said.
The Cabinet also reviewed the arrangements for upcoming Statehood Day observation and decided to celebrate it with restrictions in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. Amongst other decisions, the Cabinet further approved rules governing Manipur Private Security Services for providing private security to cash transportation activities, rules for banning unregulated deposits schemes, and the Manipur Human Rights Commission Services Rules. It was also approved to strengthen the manpower of MHRC.
Biren Singh made his maiden visit to Kamjong district headquarters as CM, along with Cabinet ministers as part of the state government’s “Go to Hills” mission. During his visit, the chief minister inaugurated different developmental projects and laid foundation stones for many others apart from presiding over a State Cabinet meeting.
The chief minister was accorded a warm welcome in a colourful reception function organised at Kamjong Public Ground, according to the release.
CM Biren inaugurated 33/11 KV Sub-Stations of Nambashi, Nampisha and Gamnom villages, temporary office of SP, School Fagathansi of Kamjong High School, augmentation of Water Supply at Lairam Khullen and Khongjal under Jal Jeevan Mission, Kamjong Forest Division Office Complex, works under BADP (Model Village) at Nampisha, rain water harvesting at Ramrei, rehabilitation houses of Chassad village, barrack type quarter and Health and Wellness Centre at Phungyar PHC, One Stop Centre (Sakhi), Institutional Building and Health & Wellness Centre at PHC Kasom Khullen and Model Residential School at Kamjong under PMJVK.
The chief minister also laid the foundation stones for an Ima Market at Kamjong, Khambi to Nongman road, Bailey bridge over Changkhong river, Bailey bridge over Tuyungbi river on Hongbai to Kangoi road, Bailey bridge over Sandok river, Steel Truss bridge over Maklang River on Chatru Khullen to Gambal road, Kambi to Nongman Road and Bailey bridge over Maklang River on Leiting to Hangkau road, the release added.
Biren also distributed CMHT, CMST, PMJAY and Old Age Pension cards and wheel-chairs to selected beneficiaries, it added.
Addressing the gathering, Biren stated that the “Go to Hills” mission was introduced to achieve equal development in all parts of the state, provide equal opportunity to all the people and retain mutual respect amongst them. The mission was announced in his maiden speech as a chief minister on March 15, 2017, the release said.
Since then, he along with Cabinet ministers and officials of the state government have been visiting different hill districts to realise people’s needs and understand their inconveniences, Biren said. He added that his government is thankful to the people of hill districts for warm welcome wherever they visit.
The chief minister stated that his visit to Kamjong district, earlier scheduled for December 16, 2020, was postponed due to a state function. For this, he requested the people of Kamjong to pardon him for the last minute postponement. CM Biren Singh said that although he could not visit Kamjong in the first round of the Go to Hills Mission, developmental activities continued in the district in consultation with Hill Areas Committee Chairman and representative of the area, MLA K Leishiyo.
Biren said that the Union introduced the Hill Area Development Programme (HADP) at his plea. Stating that Tamenglong and Noney districts had received Rs 90 crore under the programme in 2020, the chief minister said that he had written to the Union to implement the programme in other hill districts of the state as well.
Lauding the Public Health Engineering Department for providing tap water to all the households of the district headquarters, the chief minister announced that the executive engineer concerned would be befittingly rewarded for this commendable work. He also expressed satisfaction for the works being taken up in the power sector in the district. He also directed the officials concerned to complete ongoing construction works in the district before the onset of the rainy season.
In the Education sector, he announced that Kamjong High School would be upgraded to Higher Secondary apart from setting up a college at the earliest. The chief minister further said that upgradation of Kamjong CHC to District Hospital had already been included in the proposal for funding under North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS). Opening of PHSCs at Nambisha, Tangkhul Hundung and Ningthi had also been approved, the chief minister said and added that Samphung PHSC would also be upgraded to PHC under the funds from Multi Sectoral Development Programme (MSDP). Under the same programme, a Working Women Hostel having 31 rooms would also be constructed at district headquarters, he informed.
Further informing that branches of Central Bank of India and Punjab & Sind Bank would be opened at district headquarters, the chief minister requested the villagers to extend cooperation to the bank staff, who would come there to serve them. Stating that Kamjong shares around 103 km of border with Myanmar, the state government would submit a proposal to the North East Council (NEC) for opening of Border Haats at Skipe and Pilong. Directing the concerned officials to complete construction of Women’s Market of the district by March this year, the chief minister urged the people to inform him if quality is not maintained in construction works.
Speaking at the occasion, deputy chief minister Y Joykumar said that unlike in the past, Kamjong is now performing well in all the development indicators like roads, water and power supply. Maintaining that people must be experiencing a positive change ever since the present government came to the state, he urged them to extend support to the government so that this change sustains.
In his speech, Power minister and government spokesperson Th Biswajit said that inauguration of the 33/11 KV power sub-stations at Gamnom is a big achievement not only for the people of the area but for the entire state. He pointed out that with the inauguration of the sub-station, the power losses suffered earlier due to long transmission from Kamjong sub-station would now be minimised.
The minister further informed that construction of 5MW sub-stations at Nambashi and Nampisha would be started at the earliest. Construction of sub-stations at other places including Kachai, Chingai, Somdal and Sanakeithei would also commence soon, he added.