Imphal, March 17 2009: The 5th session of the 9th Manipur Legislative Assembly started today with the address of Governor Gurbachand Jagat reiterating the commitment of the SPF Government not only to the maintenance of peace, social harmony, better fiscal discipline and better governance but also to protect the territorial integrity of Manipur and work for the well being of the people of the State.

In his address, the Governor contended that the fiscal health of the State has shown considerable improvement in the recent past.

Maintaining that the State Government's continued emphasis on reduction of non-plan expenditure and providing resources for capital investment has resulted in significant improvement in its expenditure profile unlike in the past wherein substantial amount of the State's resources were utilised in meeting financial liabilities like salaries, pensions and interest payments, the Governor observed that in fact since 2005-06, the State Government has not availed of overdrafts from the Reserve Bank of India, clearly highlighting the improved resource position of the State.

The Governor hoped that with sympathetic consideration of the detailed and elaborate proposals made by the State Government to the 13th Finance Commission, grants and plan assistance from the Government of India and the Planning Commission in the ensuing year, the Government would be able not only to sustain the fiscal consolidation process that is presently underway in the State but also help a long way in further strengthening the State's fiscal position.

Continuing his address, the Governor informed the House that his Government has drafted the Annual Plan 2009-10 amounting to Rs 2425.92 crores with highest priority to social services sector with an allocation of Rs 5.48.93 croes.

It may be noted here that the State Government had an Annual Plan 2008-09 amounting to Rs 1660 crores and it was subsequently enhanced to Rs 1713.95 croes including Rs 550 crores under Special Plan Assistance (SPA).

Admitting that the State continues to face the challenge of insurgency and law and order problems, the Governor said, 'My Government is fully committed to improving the law and order situation and through the efforts of the Manipur Police commendable results have ben achieved in the counter insurgency efforts'.

The State Police with the help of CPMF, Army and Assam Rifles have been able to check significantly the activities of the UGs in the valley area and with the signing of Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with UPF and KNO groups, it is expected that the law and order situation in the hills would be improved, the Governor said.

Taking note of the existing power supply situation in the State which is dependent on the Central generating stations situated in the North Eastern region, the Governor informed the House that as a step towards improving power supply, the State Government has decided to take part in the North East Transmission Company for construction of 400 KV D/C Pallatana-Silchar-Bongaigaon trunk transmission system for evacuation of power from the Pallatana Gas Power Project (740 MW, targeted for commission during 2010-11) and Bongaigaon Thermal Power Project (750 MW, targeted for commission during 2011-12) from which 43 MW and 56 MW of power have been allocated to Manipur respectively.

While implementing a number of irrigation and multipurpose projects like Khuga project, Thoubal project and Dollaithabi project to meet the growing demand of water and power and also for the control of floods, the State Government is also fully aware of the rising demand for drinking water, the Governor said.

Stressing on importance of road transport for a land locked State like Manipur, the Governor said that the financial target under Annual Plan 2008-09 for MH:5054 (Plan) including ACA/SPA is Rs 20144.66 lakhs.

To reverse the trend of commonly seen phenomenon of failing Government schools, the Governor said his Government has taken up a number of measures to restore the confidence of h people in the ability of the Government schools to deliver again.

The Governor enumerated setting up of the Special Category English Medium Government Schools or Model Schools in short, incentives to schools producing first divisioners in High School Leaving Certificate Examination conducted by the Board of Secondary Education and Higher Secondary Examination conducted by the Council of Higher Secondary Education, Manipur, merit scholarship scheme for the first 300 students of class X examination conducted by the Board and class XII examination conducted by the Council, re-organisation of schools and rationalisation of teaching staffs to eradicate the menace of mismatch of teachers and students and ensuring he availability of teachers in rural and far flung area of the State, skill development in partnership with IL and FS to improve the employability of the youths and making sincere effort to find job placement for them and remedial teaching provided to the students of the Government schools specially to those who are going to appear in the Board and Council eamination so that heir performance in the examination improves among some of the initiatives taken up in this regard.

Appreciating that the sports persons of Manipur have brought laurels to the State on many occasions, the Governor said that his Government is committed to promoting sports including indigenous games of the State.

'During this year, my Government felicitated M Suraj Singh who scaled Mount Everest, Th Nanao Singh who got gold medal at the World Youth Boxing Championship, Archer L Bombayla Devi and Judoka Kh Tombi Devi who participated in the Beijing Olympics.

Moreover, for their outstanding performances in the World Women Boxing Championship, my Government has taken a decision to promote MC Mary Kom and L Sarita Devi who were Inspectors of Police as Deputy Superintendents of Police', the Governor informed the House.

During the year, special coaching programmes/workshops were also organised in Wushu, Holistic Medicine and sports psychology and physical conditioning and weight training, and under SPA, creation of District Sports complex at Chandel, Senapati and Thoubal, regional water sports complex at Takmu and multi-sports complex at Jiribam have been taken up during 2008-09, the Governor added.

Stating that Agriculture continues to be the backbone of the State economy, the Governor informed the House that during the year 2008-09, 518250 metric tons of rice, 26150 metric tone of oil seed, 298000 metric tons of sugarcane and 108000 metric tons of potato were produced.

Adoption of new technology like 100 percent seed treatment, farm mechanisation, Integrated Nutrient Management (INM), Integrated Pests Management (IPM), improvement of traditional method of Jhum in hill area, System of Rice Intensification (SRI) are expected to boost up the production and productivity of food grain and oilseeds, the Governor hoped.

Under the Self Employment Guarantee Programme (SEGP), the Cooperative Department disbursed an amount of Rs 5468.36 lakhs as credit to farmers and others during 2008-09 through the Manipur State Co-operative Bank, the Governor added.

The address of the Governor also touched on other developmental projects being taken up like Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA), National Literacy Mission, National Rural Health Mission, JnNURM, Technology Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture, Border Area Development Programme, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), Backward Region Grant Fund, etc.

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