Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 04:
The seven member of Parliament team who arrived on a two day State visit today concluded a packed first day schedule surveying various development programmes being undertaken at Moreh and Imphal.
The team led by Chairperson of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs Sushma Swaraj landed at Manipur University ground from Moreh at around 2 pm.
After they were accorded a warm welcome at Dr Kamal Indoor Stadium the University authorities submitted a six point proposal which include opening a course on Integrated Masters in Physical Education, upgrading Centre for Manipur Studies to the status of an institute, expansion of Centre for South East Asia Studies, Centre for Nano Science Material Studies and establishment of an Institute for Indo-Myanmar Geology study.
film clippings were exhibited to the parliamentary team at the Recreation hall of the indoor stadium on progress/current status of development works implemented in the varsity which had been recently elevated to a Central University.
The works include those financed by the DONER Ministry and eight other programmes under funding of Non Lapsable Pool of Central Resource which are currently underway as well as scheduled for implementation in the future.
Among other MU officials, the Vice Chancellor Prof Chabungbam Amuba and Registrar RK Ranjan were present on the occasion.
Information culled from MU sources suggest that the Central team were satisfied with the work progress.
When mediapersons tried to extract comment from Sushma Swaraj on her personal experiences so far the BJP leader only informed that a detailed report on the visit would be placed before Parliament.
She also conveyed to the newspersons that there would be no media interaction programme.
The MPs made spot inspection of works like ongoing construction of ladies and men's hostel, examination building and department blocks.
From MU, the Parliamentarians inspected facilities available at Khuman lampak Sports Complex for over an hour and reached RIMS for the last leg of the first day inspection programme.
At Khuman Lampak the MPs inspected the VIP gallery where Commissioner (IPR) H Devsekhar Sharma presented a model of the sports complex and briefed the team on various sports infrastructure at the site.
In addition to scanning the sports museum at the ground floor of the stadium the Central team went around the stadium to take stock of available infrastructures.
At RIMS Jubilee Hall a reception programme was also held to welcome the MPs while the institute's Director Prof L Fimate presented and explained on slides showcasing its various aspects.
The Director also highlighted different facilities and inadequacies of RIMS Hospital.
A memorandum was also submitted to the Sushma Swarajled team urging the MPs' necessary action in provision of infrastructures at par with those of All India Institute of Medical Sciences.
Other members of the Parliamentary delegate include Sanjay Raut, CK Chandrappan, Biren Singh Engti, Tapir Gao, Braj Kishore Tripathy and Sitaram Yechury.
Seven officials also accompanied the MPs.
Yechury has left for New Delhi today itself.
The MPs arrived at MU campus on two helicopters.
Meanwhile, a section of MU faculty members who were halted from entering the University campus from the main gate on security grounds expressed strong resentment at the un-holistic conduct of entire programme.
They were of the view that security arrangement should not be a hurdle to facilitate participation and interaction of professors as well as students with the visiting dignitaries as the very purpose of establishing the University means welfare and advancement of higher education in the State in general and development of students in particular.
Taking into account conduct of those responsible for the security arrangements MU will be more appropriate if its in renamed University of Security Studies, the peeved professors maintained.
Earlier, at Moreh the MPs bombarded State officials on significant decrease on trade volume contrary to immense potential of the border town.
Speaking to newspersons at Yatri Niwas this morning Sushma Swaraj explained that the main purpose for the visit is to assess prevailing security scenario in border areas and take stock of progress of various developmental works being initiated under the DONER Ministry.
Informing that the MPs had already covered Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur as part of the North East tour, the BJP MP listed Tripura, Sikkim and Meghalaya as the next States in the Committee's itinerary.
At the Shillong headquarters of North East Council the Committee would attend a meeting and submit recommendations related to the current visit.
Joining the media briefing CPM MP Sitaram Yechury described the main factor for constitution of the Parliamentary panel as evaluation of developmental works in the border areas while observing that Moreh has huge potential in promoting international trade and commerce.
The Committee would also present its recommendation to the Finance and Home ministries, he said.
Responding to a query on relationship between India and its neighbouring countries, the CPM leader expressed that even though Indo-Myanmar tie is quite different from relationships the country shares with the neighbours evaluation from all possible angle need to be assessed to further improve the ties.
Yechury exuded confidence that India's Look East Policy would not only enhance development of Manipur but would have positive impact to the entire country.
After inspecting Yatri Niwas and Moreh Hospital the MP team had an interaction session with officials of Moreh Trade Centre wherein the officials representing customs and State security agencies highlighted inconveniences faced in dispensing their duties while the MPs insisted on detailed information on decrease in trade volume compared to Myanmar.
The MPs later visit the proposed site for establishment of a composite check post located near Gate No II.




