The fifth session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly commenced on Wednesday and was kick started with governor Anusuiya Uikey’s address reflecting on the law-and-order initiatives to curb the ongoing violence and the government’s measures to address the victims of the violence.
Her speech delivered for around one hour and 22 minutes with the opening paragraph in Manipuri language and supplemented with Hindi, also reflected on the various initiatives and development on welfare projects and schemes of the various departments, particularly focusing on those implemented during the last one year.
Informing that 219 persons lost their lives during the ongoing violence in Manipur, the governor expressed the deepest sympathies with the families who lost their near and dear ones, on behalf of the Manipur government.
She informed that an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh is being disbursed to the affected families, after due verification and mortal remains of victims have been handed over to next of kins and last rites performed.
To cater to clothing and other needs of the displaced persons, till date, she asserted that an amount of Rs. 1,000 had been distributed twice to every displaced individual and the third time distribution has also begun.
Till date, with assurance and approval from the ministry of Home Affairs, the state government has spent about Rs 200 crore for various aspects of relief operations and reimbursement is being sought.
Regarding the measures to curb the violence, she said, state security forces, 198 companies of CAPF and 140 columns of Army have been deployed for assisting in area domination, sanitisation and maintenance of law and order situation in the state.
They are deployed jointly in the periphery of sensitive villages and all ‘hot spots’ by way of static and mobile patrolling, she said, adding that pickets are also established at important locations to prevent clashes between the two communities, besides placing District Level Coordination Committees chaired by the DCs.
She maintained, to contain the present crisis, a total of 1,87,143 persons were detained under preventive detention and released after due legal formalities, besides a total of about 10,000 FIRs have been registered till date.
The state government has also handed over 29 cases to CBI and one to NIA for independent and transparent investigation and another 4 FIRs are in the process of transfer to the CBI and another 5 FIRs to the NIA, she said.
“Our security forces continue to relentlessly fight insurgency and extremism in the year 2023, a total of 167 extremists were arrested and 17 extremists neutralised. 80 insurgents also surrendered,” she asserted.
The governor even claimed that there is improvement in the law-and-order situation with deployment of security forces at sensitive zones and areas and various other developmental measures.
Talking on the various sexual assault cases, she said that the government is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that justice is delivered to our sisters, both in hills and valley, who are victims of sexual violence.
Wherever required, cases have also been transferred to CBI for ensuring fair, speedy and specialised investigation into the matter, she added.
Coming to the War on Drugs 2.0, she said so far 72.9 kg of Heroin, 147.1 Kg of Opium, 195.2 kg of Ganja, 111.3 Kg of Brown Sugar, 155.3 kg of WY tablet, 33.3 kg of Pseudoephedrine tablets, were seized, amongst others, 288 cases were registered under NDPS Act and 333 persons arrested during 2023.
She continued that 3,010 acres of illicit poppy cultivation were destroyed. Area under poppy cultivation was assessed for the last three consecutive years covering 9 districts of the state.
Area under poppy cultivation assessed during 2021-22 was about 28,599 acres and it is reduced to 11,288 acres during 2023-24, which is a reduction of about 60 per cent, she claimed.
Addressing the various developments in the health care system, she announced that approval has been received for construction and equipping of 60-Bedded State Mental Hospital for a cost of Rs. 70.47 crore under PM-DevINE.
Highlighting that the ongoing unrest in the state has taken a heavy toll on the state's economy, she said that the financial year 2023-24 has been a difficult year for the state.
Given the trend of own tax and non-tax collection so far, she pointed out that the state may lose fiscal resources to the tune of Rs 800 crore during the current financial year.
This has had a major impact on the budgeted resource availability of the state, added the governor.
In line with the commitment of my Government towards promoting welfare of the people of the state, expenditure towards the social sector increased from Rs. 2,468 crore in 2016-17 to Rs. 5,793 crore in 2022-23, she informed.
Besides the various initiatives taken up by the government to facilitate the displaced students, she informed that the School Fagathansi Mission, which now covers 120 schools, led to 24 per cent increase in enrolment, increase in Pass percentage in HSLCE from 52.38 to 68.65 and from 61.65 to 87.95 in HSE.
She also informed that a total of 78 per cent rural households and 90 per cent urban households have been provided with functional household tap connections under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Talking on the development of the electoral process, she said that the Special Summary Revision of Photo Electoral Rolls with respect to January 1, 2024 as the qualifying date in respect of Manipur has been completed with notification of the final electoral rolls containing a total of 20,26,623 electors.
There is a net increase of 18,191 electors from the Draft Electoral, with 34,700 newly enrolled electors, and deletion of as many as 16,509 electors, including 5,280 dead electors, she added.
Preparations have started both at state and district levels for the forthcoming Lok Sabha Elections-2024, the governor informed.
“I look forward to the whole-hearted support of all Hon'ble Members towards a collective and shared vision of Manipur, where people cohabit in harmony and solidarity with mutual respect and dignity for one another.
“People of my state are very resilient and I have full faith in my brothers and sisters. Manipur has always been and will continue to be a multicultural state, which respects the diverse identities of the state. My Government believes in taking everyone along, in its path of development. I appeal to everyone in the state for their support, so that peace and harmony is restored soon and that the State moves forward on the path of prosperity,” Anusuiya Uikey said, concluding her speech.
A controversy arose as the opening paragraph of the governor address in Manipuri language, as the word “chaokhatpa” was misinterpreted as “chaokhataba” and it went viral in social media.
In this regard, the Speaker on the floor of the House has clarified that it was a slip of tongue as the governor is unfamiliar with Manipuri language.
