Imphal, August 21 2009: To understand what the people of the State need and to involve them in the developmental process, the Central Inter-Ministerial official team, led by Union Home Secretary JK Pillai, which is currently on a visit today participated in a development seminar at Moirang in Bishnupur district.

During the course of the seminar, various irregularities on the part of the State Government in implementation of developmental schemes and projects came to the notice of the visiting Central team.

The development seminar held at the INA hall of Moirang and participated by Secretary of DoNER, Jarnail Singh, Advisor of Union Planning Commission Brahmo Choudhury, Chief Secretary of the State, DS Poonia and officials of Central Ministries discussed the flagship programmes of the Government of India, covering issues like health and sanitation, drinking water, rural housing, banking, etc.

Officials of various State Government Departments, district level officers, functionaries of Municipal Councils, Gram Panchayats, NGOs and individual persons also attended the seminar organised by the district administration under the sponsorship of DoNER Ministry.

During the seminar, Deputy Commissioner of Bishnupur, P Panmei, presented a detailed report of the developmental works being taken up in the district even as the public raised various questions based on which the Central Ministerial team grilled the officials concerned.

The DoNER Secretary demanded explanation from the district administration and the Panchayat on providing just 24 days of work out of the mandatory 100 days in a year under National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), to the job card holders of Bishnupur district.

The DC of Bishnupur explained that it was due to a case pending in the High Court last year.

However, since the case has been withdrawn, there would be no problem in implementation of the scheme this year, he said.

With regard to complaint over non-availability of drinking water and failure of the water supply scheme being taken up at Ngaikhong Khullen, the Executive Engineer of PHED Bishnupur maintained that the co-operation of the public is essential to ensure the success of water supply scheme.

The response of the Executive Engineer provoked the DoNER Secretary to ask three times what kind of co-operation does the Department expects from the public.

But the EE kept only muttering 'co-operation is essential'.

To a question raised by the Union Home Secretary on banking activities, Managar of UBI Moirang Branch conveyed that the bank has been functioning only for three days in a week for the last 15 years as there is no security on the remaining days.

Moreover, there is also no facility for ATM at the bank.

Chief Secretary DS Poonia supplemented by adding that security is being provided only for three days on rotation basis as there is not enough manpower.

Public also brought to the notice of the Central Ministerial team that the patients admitted for treatment at the district hospital are being referred to the private hospital as there is not enough doctors.

Taking serious note of the matter, the Ministerial team later visited to inspect the condition of the district hospital.

As part of the seminar, a exhibition had also been inaugurated.

Earlier inaugurating the seminar and the exhibition, Union Home Secretary JK Pillai observed that the main objective of the event is to understand what the aspiration of the people and solve their existing problems.

He also noted that besides sporting talents, Manipur has great potential for development of tourism, agriculture and horticulture. DoNER Minister Jarnail Singh hoped that organising such development seminars would help the district and its people.

In his address, Chief Secretary DS Poonia made specific mention of Loktak Lake and stone carving activities of the people in the district.

A similar development seminar would be held at Senapati tomorrow.

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