The Ex-ADC Forum Manipur calls on Additional Chief Secretary of Manipur, Tribal Affairs and Hills Department, Anurag Bajpai (IFS) on Tuesday at Sanjenthong Head Office, Imphal.
The delegation was led by RS. Ngaranchui, Convenor, Ex- ADC Members’ Forum of Manipur and submitted a memorandum expressing serious concerns over the prolonged delay in conducting ADC elections in the state and pending implementation of pension scheme to the Ex-ADCs.
During the meeting, the delegation submitted a memorandum outlining the adverse impacts of the delay, stating the recent -The High Court of Manipur directing the state government to conduct long-pending panchayat elections within six months, bringing clarity to the prolonged delay in local body polls. The absence of elected local bodies in the hill areas has significantly hindered development and weakened local governance. They expressed that the lack of representation has left crucial issues unresolved and called on the Additional Chief Secretary to take immediate action for the restoration of democratic processes in the hill district of Manipur.
Additional Chief Secretary Tribal Affairs and Hills, Anurag Bajpai gave a very positive response to the issues being raised by the delegation in connection with the functioning of ADCs of Manipur including non-holding of ADC elections after the lapse of the latest term in November 2020,” the statement said.
Outlining his focus and priority in the Hill districts Anurag Bajpai deliberated that the department’s top priority is – Strengthening the Education System in the Hill districts where primary Schools are run and administered by ADCs in all the Hill districts. The department has been actively monitoring the construction works of projects sanctioned in 2018-2019 EMRS- Eklavya Residential Model School by putting on task the Engineers of implementing agencies i.e MTDC- Manipur Tribal Development Corporation and MANIDCO- Manipur Industrial Development Corporation Limited for completing the projects at the earliest. The EMRS Riha and EMRS Chandel, EMRS Churachandpur near Loktak are progressing at great pace and will be ready for inauguration by December of this year 2025 and already 5-6 new EMRS for different hill districts of Kangpokpi etc have been submitted for sanction to Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India. The Additional Chief Secretary shed light on the aims and objective of EMRS Schools where Tribal students’ boys and girls admitted will avail the facility of best infrastructures which comes to total investment of Rs 1.44 Lakhs per student i.e Rs 12,000 per month in a year. The Additional Chief Secretary on his last visit to New Delhi has discussed avenues for establishment of Higher Education institutes in the Hill districts of Manipur with Shri Vineet Joshi, IAS Secretary Ministry of Higher Education, Government of India.
Reiterating the commitment for strengthening the health infrastructures, functioning’s and medical staffs and manpower requirements in the interior hill district border villages and also connectivity by means of PMGSY and Inter Village Roads (IVRs) for the growth and prosperity of the village in the hill districts.
The strength of the state lies in Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry. 78% percent of Manipur area is Forest land and land is the biggest resource of Manipur state.
The push for more per capita income by strengthening the industries at household level and micro industries level for generation of new employment opportunities in the hill districts by establishing Industrial Estates in all the Hill districts of Manipur was also highlighted by Anurag Bajpai. New project proposals for Establishing industrial Estates at Chandel, Kamjong etc have been started and Land Availability and acquisition process through respective Deputy Commissioners are in the process with funding from the Ministry of MSME, Government of india. Already industrial Estates of Ukhrul, and Chandel are ready for inauguration, and 3 new proposals have been submitted to ministry.
MSME Technology and tool room centres in the hill districts with common facility centres with High end machines, technology tools and equipment, space for processing units, packaging centres and marketing centres to connect with buyer companies will also be included in the setting up of new technology tool rooms and centres. These centres will have residential facilities for the border villagers of hill areas.
VDVKs- Van dhan Vikas Kendras in the hill districts putting value addition and marketing support to forest produces have been taken up under the forest department and has been creating livelihood support for thousands of tribal families.
The additional Chief Secretary informed the delegation that the file for extending pension benefits to Ex-ADC Members is making great progress and will be rolled out very soon for implementation at the earliest.
Carbon trading facilities and projects with investment from major industries have been initiated and works are in great progress for signing the final agreements with global partners and associates. Already 5 village authorities and council have signed the agreement for raising!the plantation under good forest cover has been implemented in a pilot project for Manipur under the forest department.
The Ex-ADC Forum placed on record their sincere appreciation and heartfelt gratitude for the people centric inclusive administration and progressive achievements under the efficient and inclusive governance of Tribal Affairs and Hills Department, Manipur under Anurag Bajpai after he took over as Administrative Secretary under President Rule in the last 5 months successfully clearing all pending utilisation certificates which has led to lapses and difficulties for new fund sanctions and approval of projects under Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Hills, Manipur. Establishing a system of effective, accountable and transparent governance, free from bias and prejudice towards the hill tribal people of Manipur and the mission of “Reaching the Unreached “to all hill districts headquarter visits every month unlike never in the department.
The timely salaries of ADCs have been very much appreciated and reflects the concern of the Government in letter and spirit. These measures have brought renewed confidence in the government machinery and strengthened trust among the tribal communities of hill districts of Manipur.
