Imphal, July 14 2009: After heated discussion, the State Assembly today finally passed four demands amounting to Rs 2,34,86,15,000 for the fiscal year 2009-2010 .

The four demands are Demand no.20 which relates to Community Development and ANDP, IRDP and NREP (Rs 99,05,51,000); Demand no.25 relating to Youth Affairs and Sports (Rs 24,81,23,000); Demand no.36 relating to Minor Irrigation (Rs 70,77,08,000) and Demand no.47 which relates to Welfare of Minorities and OBC (Rs 40,22,33,000) .

During the discussion of the demands put up by Chief Minister for passing, Opposition member RK Anand, with regard to the Demand no.25, contended that there is no clear cut policy for the welfare of the youth in the State and moved the cut motion of reducing the grant amount to Rs 100 .

In connection with Demand no.36, senior Opposition member raised the cut motion to reduce the grant to Rs 1 maintaining that Minor Irrigation Department has failed in implementing various schemes and there is mismanagement.

Putting the cut motion of Rs 100 to Demand no.47, which relates to Welfare of Minorities and OBC, Opposition members Morung Makunga and Dr Ng Bijoy asserted that besides mismanagement of fund, Department of MOBC has not implemented any of the welfare schemes properly.

In his response to the discussion, Minister of MOBC Md Allauddin Khan explained that though 100 days of work under NREGS could not be ensured in the valley districts, due to delay in submission of the work proposal by the Gram Sabhas concerned, the stipulated number of works have been ensured in the hill districts.

To ensure successful implementation of the scheme in the valley districts as well, proposal would be raised to rope in the services of the NGOs by paying 50 percent of the amount at the State Guarantee Council, the Minister informed, adding that 40 percent of the fund under the scheme are for material component and the same is utilised in arranging the required materials.

The Minister further informed the House that 110 villages have been connected with road network under the PMGSY and more than Rs 3 crores have been sanctioned for 131 packages to be taken up during the current fiscal year.

MOBC has been issuing loan to the applicants after proper verification and many economic development programmes are being implemented in accordance to the laid down guidelines and rules, the Minister asserted, adding that efforts would be made to increase the annual income of Rs 44,500 which is being provided for extending scholarship.

In his response to the discussion, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister N Biren informed the House that preparation of a State Youth Policy on the pattern of the National Youth Policy is currently at the drafting stage.

The Minister said his Department has been organising vocational training, youth leadership camp, cultural exchange programme and adventure courses from time to time and scouting of vacant posts in various Departments for providing jobs to 135 players who won gold medals in the National Games starting from the 5th edition of the sporting event has been completed.

Minor Irrigation Minister L Loken informed the House that so far over 26251 hectares of land have been irrigated under RLI and other Minor Irrigation schemes of his Department.

The Minister assured that steps would be taken up to see whether those individuals who donated their land for the RLI schemes may be appointed as chowkidar cum operation.

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