New Delhi, October 13 2008: Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh has emphasized the need to be vigilant, alert and responsive to the genuine needs of all sections of people, particularly the weaker and backward sections who need special protection, in order to protect integrity of the country.

Participating at the meeting of National Integration Council at Balayogi Auditorium, Parliament House here today, the Chief Minister stated, "India is a diverse country.

Manipur State mirrors this diversity.

We have tribals and non-tribals, hill and plain people who belong to different religions and speak in different dialects.

In the current socio-political environment; external and extreme elements within our own multi-cultural society may try to exploit this diversity for narrow political gains".

He also stressed the need to strengthen the intelligence machinery, both at the Central and State levels and to ensure effective co-operation and co-ordination among the various security agencies so the all sections of people were secured.

Stating that lack of economic development and competition for scarce resources including land, was often the root cause of communal and ethnic clashes, Ibobi referred to the continuing infrastructure deficit in Manipur.

He added that the entire North Eastern Region lagged behind other regions of the country in terms of road connectivity, power availability, banking and financial services, water supply and sanitation.

He underlined that rapid and balanced economic development was the need of the hour.

The Chief Minister called for a wholesome developmental approach for the North Eastern Region, particularly Manipur which offered the most feasible land-route, as the gateway to the dynamic South East Asian countries.

The Look East Policy had given a new hope to the people of North Eastern Region, he added.

Ibobi informed the meeting that there were reports of illegal migrants entering into the territory of Manipur which was debated recently in the State Legislative Assembly.

He emphasized the need for a firm and consistent approach in dealing with illegal influx of foreigners from neighbouring countries.

He recalled the State Government's recent request to the Union Home Minister for fencing the border with Myanmar.

Border fencing was urgently required to control smuggling of arms, drugs and use of adjoining areas as safe haven by insurgent groups, he added.

Referring to the needs of the weaker and vulnerable sections of the population in Manipur, he informed the meeting that the Manipur Legislative Assembly passed the Manipur (Hill areas) District Councils (3rd Amendment) Bill 2008 on October 10 this year.

This Act would double the number of subjects and departments transferred to the District Councils to twenty five as against only twelve subjects earlier.

Steps were also being taken to conduct elections to the six District Councils in Manipur, he added.

He also mentioned the importance of Panchayati Raj Institutions in the valley areas of Manipur.

To ensure adequate resources for both the Panchayati Raj Institutions and the Hill District Councils, the Manipur Government proposed to constitute the 3rd State Finance Commission shortly.

In his inaugural address, Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh said, "Perhaps the most disturbing and dangerous aspect today is the assault on our composite culture.

An atmosphere of hatred and violence is being artificially generated.

There are forces deliberately encouraging such tendencies and also spawning militant outfits who engage in irrational violence.

These need to be firmly dealt with".

In his introductory observations, the Union Home Minister Shri Shivraj Patil said that the decisive forces and agencies and parochialism have surfaced at many places causing damage to the properties and lives of the innocent citizens.

Such tendencies and persons promoting them should be controlled and punished severely, if they do not change their attitude through persuasion and dialogue.

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