The Manipur state cabinet on Saturday expressed strong condemnations against the alleged high handedness of Central forces in controlling a mob at Pallel and decided to apprise the Central government with a report.
Speaking to the media at his Lamphel residence in Imphal West, Information and Public Relation Minister S Ranjan said that a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister N Biren Singh at the CM Secretariat office deliberated around 30 agendas, and most of them were unanimously passed.
After heavily armed Kuki militants from Molnoi area opened indiscriminate fire at Meitei Villages in Pallel, more than 80 protesters along with one army officer and three state commandos were injured in a confrontation with Assam Rifles personnel at Pallel.
At least, three people were shot dead during the confrontation.
Ranjan said the state cabinet has decided to take necessary action against both the state and central forces in any case of high handedness towards the civilians.
Apart from the various agendas discussed during the meeting, it decided to request and mount pressure upon the Central government to remove the indefinite economic blockade imposed on national highways of Manipur, he said.
Many houses and belongings have been destroyed since the eruption of the prevailing turmoil, he said. To provide assistance to the affected people, the state cabinet decided to construct permanent houses under the Permanent Housing Scheme in their respective areas, he added.
As per a police report, a total of 4,806 houses were destroyed and damaged during the crisis in various districts of Manipur. For the first phase, the government will provide financial assistance to 1,000 households, he said.
To repair the damaged pucca houses, a total of Rs 10 lakh will be provided to the affected families; for semi-pucca houses, Rs 7 lakh and Rs 5 lakh for kaccha houses will be provided respectively. The said total financial assistance will be given in two phases, said Ranjan.
He mentioned that the state government has already announced the ex-gratia for the victims affected during the crisis.
The state cabinet has reconsidered the amount to be given for the victims of different categories including civilians, state and central forces upto Rs 10 lakh.
The Cabinet has also resolved for extension of another 6 months period to maintain status quo of the ‘disturbed area’ status in Manipur and to review the same after the expiry of the period, he mentioned.
Setting apart the areas under 19 police stations, the state cabinet decided to extend the disturbed area status in the other parts of the state, he added.
For the women victims and survivors of sexual assault, the state cabinet has resolved to create a ‘Women Victims Compensation Funds’ of Rs 5 crore out of the funds allocated under appropriate head of accounts for victim compensation fund operated by state Home Department, he said.
The fund shall be made available in advance and shall be operated by Manipur State Legal Services Authority (MASLSA), he added.
Apart from the present issues in connection with the prevailing crisis, the state cabinet resolved to create a post of Assistant Sub-Inspector for Paonam Lily Chanu, the silver medalist in World Archery Championship, 2017, he announced.
For the recruitment of lower grade and grade IV that was conducted in 2021, the state cabinet has resolved to handover the case for investigation to the state vigilance department as some issues were found during the recruitment process, the minister added.
As the state government is concerned about the promotion of education in Manipur, the state cabinet has given approval to recruit 436 posts of assistant professors, he said. The said examination will be conducted through MPSC, he further said, adding, with the increasing number of medical institutes the state government will set up a separate directorate ‘Directorate of Medical Education’ under state Health department.
Ranjan, who is also the health minister, said the Lakhmai, Senapati PHSC will be upgraded to CHC after considering the population of the area.
He appealed to the people to take up precautionary measures against the dengue cases in different areas of the state. The authority concerned has been taking various initiatives to spread awareness to the people to prevent the spread. He said the department concerned has been taking various actions including fogging, treatment of mosquitos with chemicals, spreading awareness using loud mic, spraying of larvicides and others.
Ranjan further appealed not to put stagnant waters in surrounding areas of houses.
Since January, a total of 372 cumulative cases of dengue infection have been detected in Manipur. At present, there is 1 active case of dengue infection and undergoing treatment in RIMS hospital. Since January, Imphal West has recorded the highest number of cumulative dengue cases with 229 cases.
