News from the Assembly
Marriage bill sent to House Committee for scrutiny:
The Manipur Compulsory Registration of Marriages Bill, 2008, has been referred to a select committee of the state Legislative Assembly for further examination after a threadbare discussion in the House on Tuesday.
The Bill was moved for consideration and passage in the House on Tuesday afternoon by social welfare minister N Loken Singh
The minister, in his address highlighted the main objectives of the Bill, stating that enacting of this act would prevent child marriage and ensure adherence to a minimum age of marriage, prevent marriages without consent of both parties, relieve many of the difficulties faced by women left after marriage by their husbands, and give widows the right to inherit the properties of her husband and also check illegal practice of polygamy.
Opposition leader Radhabinod Koijam and senior opposition member O Joy noted that the there were no penal provision in the Bill, and the whole structure of the Bill appears to be optional in character though the title of the Bill says it is compulsory.
They took the view that there is a need for further consideration by a select committee of the house before it is passed for preventing future complications.
Law and Legislative Affairs Minister Th. Debendra informed that one of the reasons for bringing up the Bill in the House for passage was to comply with the recent Supreme Court order which mentioned the desirability of extending the Compulsory Registration of Marriage Act as passed by the Parliament, to the whole of the country.
Full Story:
Another Story:
Governor’s address passed without amendments:
The motion of thanks to the Governor’s address to the Manipur Legislative Assembly was passed unanimously on Tuesday afternoon after two days of discussion in the House.
Members of the opposition, who had sought to move a large number of amendments to the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address agreed to withdraw their amendments after the chief minister O Ibobi Singh gave a long statement in the House addressing many of the points raised by them.
The chief minister noted that the action plan framed by the state government to resolve the insurgency problem and control escalating violence has been approved by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and is in the process of implementation.
The CM said the SPF government has been pressurising the Centre for the development of state forces and mordernisation of the poilce and the same has been included in the recent state action plan accepted by the Centre, he said.
He said the Centre has already sanctioned funds for the establishment of one commando battalion, and 7th IRB battalion in the state, for which 3075 personnel is to be recruited.
The CM reaffirmed that any offer of dialogue made by the insurgent groups operating in the state are quite welcome, but there can be no question of involving third party or third country in the dialogue.
He added that every aspect of political dialogue or negotiation with any insurgent group must be within the frame work of Indian Constitution and it should be within the territory of India.
In this context, the CM said the government welcomes the fact that official talks to finalise grounds rules for suspension of operation between the underground groups unified under the aegis of KNO and UPLF have started since Monday with the officials of the Union ministry of home affairs.
He urged that the valley-based underground groups should come on a similar path for bringing a solution for the restoration of peace to the state.
He also mentioned that state surrenderee policy has reviewed recently under the government’s action plan. The state government has allotted 100 acres of land in Jiribam sub-division and construction of a surrenderee rehabilitation complex there will be started soon during the next financial year, the CM informed.
On the other hand the monthly honorarium of the surrenderees has also been increased to Rs.4000 per month apart from enhancing the lump-sum grants to be given to the surrenderees.
Regarding the state’s policy in respect of the Look East policy of the centre, the chief minister clarified that steps are being taken up in order to tape the maximum benefits from the Look East policy for the state.
He said that the move to upgrade the existing Tulihal Airport to international airport standard is part of this and it would be wrong to misinterpret the matter on the wrong notion that the villagers living in the vicinity would be driven out mercilessly in the process of airport expansion.
The CM also said the on going projects of construction of mini secretariat buildings in every district headquarters and sub-divisional headquarters of the hills will be completed during the coming financial year 2008-09, he added.
Following the clarifications made by the CM, the Opposition members agreed to withdraw their amendments to the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address, and the House unanimously passed the same before it was adjourned.
Full Story:
Another Story:
Ibobi no to raising retirement age of college teachers:
Chief Minister O Ibobi on Tuesday informed the House that though the composite scheme of the UGC has been implemented in the Government colleges, there is no question of raising the retirement age of the teachers from the current 59 to 62.
Answering a query raised by MPP MLA Dr I Ibohalbi, the Chief Minister who is also in charge of the Department of Personnel, said that the All Manipur College Teachers' Association had put forward a number of points in connection with raising the retirement age to 62 . The UGC had also proposed that the teachers may be redeployed, if needed, after their superannuation, said the CM.
The Cabinet has discussed the matter, but it remains be seen whether raising the retirement age will be productive in view of the large number of unemployed educated youth in the State, explained the CM.
Full Story:
Ex-Moreh BDO to be penalised for GPF fraud:
State Health Minister Ph Parijat has affirmed in the state Assembly on Tuesday that action is being taken against the then BDO, Moreh, Dr Lunkim, for siphoning off over Rs. 19 lakhs in GPF funds of some employees of the community health centre, Moreh.
Responding to a a calling attention motion raised by Dr Ng Bijoy Singh on the issue this morning, Ph Parijat, informed that the fraudulently withdrawn amount is being recovered from Dr. Lunkim even as a police case has been taken up against him.
He noted that the amount in question, totalling Rs 19,43,862 had been withdrawn by the officer in the year 2004 by forging the signatures of nine employees of the CHC Moreh, as also that of the then director, health services.
He noted that an Assembly House committee had examined the matter of how the funds were to be recovered from the officer, and said that since it would not be possible to recover the same if the officer was placed under suspension, it was decided to transfer him. At the same time, a police case has also been taken up against him, he informed.
Full Story:
Another Story:
The Manipur Compulsory Registration of Marriages Bill, 2008, has been referred to a select committee of the state Legislative Assembly for further examination after a threadbare discussion in the House on Tuesday.
The Bill was moved for consideration and passage in the House on Tuesday afternoon by social welfare minister N Loken Singh
The minister, in his address highlighted the main objectives of the Bill, stating that enacting of this act would prevent child marriage and ensure adherence to a minimum age of marriage, prevent marriages without consent of both parties, relieve many of the difficulties faced by women left after marriage by their husbands, and give widows the right to inherit the properties of her husband and also check illegal practice of polygamy.
Opposition leader Radhabinod Koijam and senior opposition member O Joy noted that the there were no penal provision in the Bill, and the whole structure of the Bill appears to be optional in character though the title of the Bill says it is compulsory.
They took the view that there is a need for further consideration by a select committee of the house before it is passed for preventing future complications.
Law and Legislative Affairs Minister Th. Debendra informed that one of the reasons for bringing up the Bill in the House for passage was to comply with the recent Supreme Court order which mentioned the desirability of extending the Compulsory Registration of Marriage Act as passed by the Parliament, to the whole of the country.
Full Story:
Another Story:
Governor’s address passed without amendments:
The motion of thanks to the Governor’s address to the Manipur Legislative Assembly was passed unanimously on Tuesday afternoon after two days of discussion in the House.
Members of the opposition, who had sought to move a large number of amendments to the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address agreed to withdraw their amendments after the chief minister O Ibobi Singh gave a long statement in the House addressing many of the points raised by them.
The chief minister noted that the action plan framed by the state government to resolve the insurgency problem and control escalating violence has been approved by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and is in the process of implementation.
The CM said the SPF government has been pressurising the Centre for the development of state forces and mordernisation of the poilce and the same has been included in the recent state action plan accepted by the Centre, he said.
He said the Centre has already sanctioned funds for the establishment of one commando battalion, and 7th IRB battalion in the state, for which 3075 personnel is to be recruited.
The CM reaffirmed that any offer of dialogue made by the insurgent groups operating in the state are quite welcome, but there can be no question of involving third party or third country in the dialogue.
He added that every aspect of political dialogue or negotiation with any insurgent group must be within the frame work of Indian Constitution and it should be within the territory of India.
In this context, the CM said the government welcomes the fact that official talks to finalise grounds rules for suspension of operation between the underground groups unified under the aegis of KNO and UPLF have started since Monday with the officials of the Union ministry of home affairs.
He urged that the valley-based underground groups should come on a similar path for bringing a solution for the restoration of peace to the state.
He also mentioned that state surrenderee policy has reviewed recently under the government’s action plan. The state government has allotted 100 acres of land in Jiribam sub-division and construction of a surrenderee rehabilitation complex there will be started soon during the next financial year, the CM informed.
On the other hand the monthly honorarium of the surrenderees has also been increased to Rs.4000 per month apart from enhancing the lump-sum grants to be given to the surrenderees.
Regarding the state’s policy in respect of the Look East policy of the centre, the chief minister clarified that steps are being taken up in order to tape the maximum benefits from the Look East policy for the state.
He said that the move to upgrade the existing Tulihal Airport to international airport standard is part of this and it would be wrong to misinterpret the matter on the wrong notion that the villagers living in the vicinity would be driven out mercilessly in the process of airport expansion.
The CM also said the on going projects of construction of mini secretariat buildings in every district headquarters and sub-divisional headquarters of the hills will be completed during the coming financial year 2008-09, he added.
Following the clarifications made by the CM, the Opposition members agreed to withdraw their amendments to the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address, and the House unanimously passed the same before it was adjourned.
Full Story:
Another Story:
Ibobi no to raising retirement age of college teachers:
Chief Minister O Ibobi on Tuesday informed the House that though the composite scheme of the UGC has been implemented in the Government colleges, there is no question of raising the retirement age of the teachers from the current 59 to 62.
Answering a query raised by MPP MLA Dr I Ibohalbi, the Chief Minister who is also in charge of the Department of Personnel, said that the All Manipur College Teachers' Association had put forward a number of points in connection with raising the retirement age to 62 . The UGC had also proposed that the teachers may be redeployed, if needed, after their superannuation, said the CM.
The Cabinet has discussed the matter, but it remains be seen whether raising the retirement age will be productive in view of the large number of unemployed educated youth in the State, explained the CM.
Full Story:
Ex-Moreh BDO to be penalised for GPF fraud:
State Health Minister Ph Parijat has affirmed in the state Assembly on Tuesday that action is being taken against the then BDO, Moreh, Dr Lunkim, for siphoning off over Rs. 19 lakhs in GPF funds of some employees of the community health centre, Moreh.
Responding to a a calling attention motion raised by Dr Ng Bijoy Singh on the issue this morning, Ph Parijat, informed that the fraudulently withdrawn amount is being recovered from Dr. Lunkim even as a police case has been taken up against him.
He noted that the amount in question, totalling Rs 19,43,862 had been withdrawn by the officer in the year 2004 by forging the signatures of nine employees of the CHC Moreh, as also that of the then director, health services.
He noted that an Assembly House committee had examined the matter of how the funds were to be recovered from the officer, and said that since it would not be possible to recover the same if the officer was placed under suspension, it was decided to transfer him. At the same time, a police case has also been taken up against him, he informed.
Full Story:
Another Story: