Imphal, July 13 2009: The State Assembly today passed another five demands amounting to Rs 179.68 crores.

The demands passed today included Demand No 6 for Transport (Rs 35708000), Demand No 13 for Labour and Employment (Rs 9,69,70,000), Demand No 14 for Development of Tribal and Schedule Caste (Rs 121,46,65,000), Demand No 18 for Animal Husbandry and Veterinary and Dairy Farming (Rs 44,04,55,000) and Demand No 34 for Rehabilitation (Rs 1,08,64,000) .

As Chief Minister O Ibobi put up the demands for discussion in the House, opposition members Dr Ng Bijoy, Radhabinod Koijam and RK Anand raised cut motions.

While discussing Demand No 14 for Development of Tribal and Scheduled Caste, MLA O Joy supporting the cut motion raised by party colleague RK Anand, asked as to why District Council elections were not held despite the existence of District Council Act.

Joy further questioned whether keeping 400 candidates in waiting list during recruitment of 260 teachers under District Councils some one/two year(s) back was in compliance with the District Council rules.

Joy further alleged that Veterinary Department has been undertaking outdated programmes and purchasing sub-standard equipment /goods.

He demanded a specific reply in black and white on whether Hundred Point Roaster System was followed while making appointments under District Councils.

To this, TD Minister DD Thaisii asked for a specific question in black and white.

Nevertheless, he assured that elections to District Councils would be held after the monsoon season next year.

Saying that reports of delimitation of District Council constituencies are with the Hill Areas Committee, Thaisii said that Cabinet would deliberate on the report as and when it is submitted by HAC and District Council elections would be held after it.

In the meantime, compilation of voters' list has been going on, he added.

The TD Minister conceded that even as 33 percent reservation should be followed under Hundred Point Roaster System, there was a backlog of about 15 percent in different Departments.

Many schools established under District Councils are lacking infrastructure.

Nevertheless, efforts are being made to fill up the shortage.

Thaisii stated that those calling bandh or blockade in their self-interest would be faced in a fitting manner.

Clarifying that there was no question of partiality in programmes taken up by TD Department, he said that programmes were distributed in all the constituencies in equitable manner.

The Veterinary Department has plans to build one cluster house in each of the hill districts, Thaisii informed the House that Integrated Dairy Development Programme Phase-I has been initiated.

Although there were 547 establishments under the Department, there was shortage of manpower, Thaisii said.

The question of purchasing outdated medicine or sub-standard computer sets never rose.

The Veterinary Minister further claimed that people would see some significant changes in the coming to/three years.

Opposition members, taking note of the soaring prices of essential commodities, called upon the Government to increase wages instead of waiting for people's movement.

They also suggested the Government to adopt a balance approach so that hill people enjoy equal benefits.

They called for construction of motels and urinals on inter-district highways.

Responding to the discussion, Transport Minister L Jayantakumar mentioned about the proposed establishment of a driving college in the State.

Under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission, the State would be receiving 15 semi-low fuel buses.

Saying that development work of ISBT is going on at Khuman Lampak, Jayantakumar said that suggestions from opposition members would be put into practice as far as possible according to merit.

Labour and Employment Minister Ph Parijat said that plans are afoot to provide medical aid to three lakhs BPL workers annually.

In the first phase of the scheme to be implemented in Imphal East district, a sum of Rs 30,000 would be provided to any worker or any five members of his family as and when any one of them falls ill.

The same scheme would be implemented in other districts too, Parijat said.

Saying that the Department is planning to revise the minimum wage, Parijat said necessary land would be purchased to build a night shelter for workers at Khuman Lampak.

Arrangements have also been made to rehabilitate bonded labourers.

For this programme, the Union Government has released Rs 28 lakhs.

To a question of Dr Ng Bijoy about the number of inter-state migrant labourers staying in Manipur, the Labour Minister said that there are 141 licensed migrant labourers till date.

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