Imphal, May 10: To rectify the major flaws plaguing the education system, the State Government is seriously considering setting up of a commission/committee of experts, stated Chief Minister O Ibobi who is also in charge of the Education portfolio on the floor of the State Assembly while discussing the Demands for Grants today.

Demands pertaining to Information and Publicity, Education, Agriculture, Elections and State Academy of Training were unanimously passed by the House today.

Taking part in the discussion, the Chief Minister informed that a Cabinet meeting had studied the irregularities prevalent in the existing education system.

A second Cabinet meeting on the same agenda will be held shortly during which constitution of committee of experts to rectify the flaws will be seriously looked into, he disclosed.

Clarifying on the questions raised by Opposition members regarding lack of infrastructure and shortage of teachers in the hill districts, particularly in remote areas, Ibobi said that efforts are on to appoint adequate number of Science and Mathematics teachers required in the hill districts.

At the time of appointment of teachers, candidates belonging to the home districts of the schools were given preference if they happened to qualify for the posts.

However, there are cases of candidates belonging to Churachandpur town refusing to go to their places of posting at Thanlon or Parbung etc, Ibobi disclosed.

Stating that the State Government has taken up initiatives to rationalise teachers posting, Ibobi assured that posting of teachers will be given according to the number of students enrolled in a school.

He further informed that efforts are on to computerise all the names of teachers under the Manipur Government Employees' List (MGEL).

He observed that some teachers appointed on forged documents have become hostile against the compilation of teachers' list.

Informing that all the teaching and non-teaching staff under District Councils are entitled to pension benefits, Ibobi claimed that the necessary number of teachers have been appointed.

Assuring that the State Government would pull up derelict teachers, he appealed to the people to check teachers not attending classes.

Quoting a ruling of the Supreme Court, Ibobi asserted that regularisation of adhoc teachers without facing fresh DPC has been prohibited.

He said that the Government cannot do anything for teachers who do not turn up for DPCs.

He informed that the SSA scheme is being implemented by ZEOs with participation of local bodies as per its guidelines.

He assured that the State Government will strive to make SSA scheme successful in Manipur which is expiring in 2010.Ibobi further disclosed that the Government has plans to build staff quarters for teachers and medical staff in the hill districts under Special Plan Assistance.

Concerning the controversy over electoral rolls, the Chief Minister noted that all the bogus voters will be detected once the initiative of the Election Commission of India to issue electoral rolls with photographs is completed.

The exercise is targeted for completion before the Parliamentary elections scheduled in 2009, he added.

While discussing on Demands for Agriculture, Minister of Agriculture Ph Parijat said that the States are not allowed to formulate agricultural policies of their own.

Nevertheless, the Union Government is preparing to declare an agricultural policy for the whole country on August 15 this year, he added.

Yet he maintained that an agricultural policy for the State was formulated and sent to the Union Government.

As a part of a welfare programme for the farmers, the Government has plans to provide 10 tractors and 130 power tillers to farmers this year.

Moreover, the State has taken up initiatives to develop agriculture model villages in certain areas in tandem with the efforts to formulate the Agricultural products Market Act, he mentioned.

Training sessions are being conducted to educate farmers on health hazards and ill effects caused by excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides.

Several call centres to provide necessary information to farmers have been opened in the State, stated Ph Parijat.

Four different Departments of the State are currently engaged in taking up measures to control rodent population in areas affected by bamboo flowering.

The Agriculture Department is currently engaged in conducting awareness programmes on the possible menace, the Agriculture Minister informed.

He conveyed that there is proposal to change the name of Agriculture Dept of the Union Govt to Dept of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare.

Taking part in the discussion, opposition members noted that there were instances of suppressing media.

They conveyed their desire to protect media fraternity of the State.

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