Our Correspondent
Imphal, March 24 (EMN): The 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly began on Thursday at assembly premises with the state governor La Ganesan addressing the first session by highlighting activities and achievements of the government and other developments in the state in the past year.
In his one hour address, governor Ganesan expressed hope that members of the house will uphold the values enshrined in the Constitution of India, individually and collectively.
On Covid-19 pandemic and healthcare, he said, “During the second wave of the pandemic, there was increased demand for medical oxygen. Stock of ‘D’ type oxygen cylinders was increased from just 25 to 6,328 within two months. 24 PSA Oxygen Generation Plants were commissioned in the past one year alone covering all 16 districts”
On law and order, he said security forces arrested 234 Extremists and neutralised 15 extremists, while 167 arms, 3,115 assorted ammunition, 253 IEDs, 27 lathod bombs and 360 numbers of detonators were recovered in 2021.
Under the government’s “War on Drugs” initiative, 87 kilograms of heroin, 1,320 kilograms of brown sugar, 505 kilograms and 80 litres of opium, nearly 10 lakh tablets and over 64 Kg of WY (Amphetamine) were seized apart from destroying 3,424 acres of illicit poppy cultivation, he added.
The governor continued that the government provided assistance to 1,708 ST families under various family-oriented programmes and to 100 tribal women organisations for carrying out various activities.
“In the wake of restrictions imposed by Covid-19 pandemic, web-based digital platform named Moodle Learning Management System was introduced in 45 government and government aided colleges of Manipur for teaching and learning interventions”, he added.
8,461 street vendors were provided with working capital loans to resume their livelihoods during the pandemic, he said.
Under the rural development, 9,716 houses were completed against a target of 9,740 under Phase-I of Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana - Gramin. Under Phase-II, 4,012 have been completed out of a total target of 8,900 houses. For 2020-21, out of a total target of 15,842 beneficiaries, 15,047 beneficiaries have been sanctioned housing units.
The house also observed a two minute silence after an unanimous resolution on the demise of former members of the house.