Assembly session adjourned sine die

Imphal, Aug 25 (DIPR)
The 13th session of the 11th Manipur Legislative Assembly was adjourned sine die yesterday.
The 5-day long 13th session of the 11th Manipur Legislative Assembly witnessed three sittings, eight obituary references, 18 starred questions, 16 unstarred questions, one withdrawal, four papers laid, five calling attention, 17 intimation of Government Assent Bill, one motion for extension of time for presentation of committee report, four presentations of committee report, seven Government Bills introduced and seven Government Bills passed.
Tribal Affairs & Hills Minister Vungzagin Valte, while placing his observation regarding ‘The Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Councils Bill, 2021’ appealed to all the tribal communities in the hill areas of Manipur to have faith in the State Government which is committed to provide tribal centric development in all the hill areas of Manipur and in the due process of the law.
He said that the Tribal Affairs & Hills Department has already issued a clarification that it has received an advance copy of draft `The Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council Bill, 2021” from the Hill Areas Committee (HAC), Manipur Legislative Assembly on August 17, 2021.
He observed that the proposed draft Bill is a complicated issue even involving the repeal of the Act passed by Parliament namely Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 1971 (the Principal Act).
Saying that the Department of Tribal Affairs & Hills has consulted all stakeholders including the Law Department and office of the Advocate General to examine the Bill, he added  that examination of the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council Bill, 2021 has been processed accordingly, by duly constituting a committee.
The Minister said that he himself being a tribal and the Minister in charge of the Tribal Affairs & Hills would like to protect the interest of the tribal communities and take up developmental activities in the hills at all times.
He also highlighted that the present BJP led Government has already taken up several initiatives like “Go to Hills”, “Hill Leaders Day” and convened Cabinet meetings in the hill districts.
Replying to a call attention motion raised by MLA  D Korungthang on the reported deteriorating condition of the Manipur Guest House at Vellore, Tamil Nadu, leader of the House Chief Minister N Biren Singh said that the Government has already taken up works to increase number of State Bhawans and guest house in other States.
He said that the Government is under process to transfer the Manipur Guest House at Vellore, Tamil Nadu from Social Welfare to General Administration Department (GAD).
The guest house which has 11 flats in three different blocks is in a deplorable condition and only four flats are presently used for lodging purposes, he said and added the Government will try to acquire a new site at Vellore to operate the guest house properly by engaging some contractual staff.
In reply to a starred question raised by MLA Th Lokeshwar Singh, Works Minister Thongam Biswajit Singh said that process is underway for maintenance of State Highways, Major District Roads (MDRs), Other District Roads (ODRs) and Inter Village Roads (IVRs) in accordance with the budget available.
In reply to another starred question raised by MLA  Surjakumar Okram, Finance Minister Y Joykumar said that the imposition of lockdown and curfew due to COVID-19 has had a great impact on the State's economy.
As per a statement laid on the Table of the House, steps taken up to address the impact on the State's economy include calibration of lockdown and restrictions, increasing capital expenditure, increasing public administration expenditure, improving State’s resource availability, effective implementation of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan and providing essentials and support to those in need.
In a reply to a call attention motion moved by MLA K Meghachandra, CAF&PD Minister Thokchom Satyabrata Singh said that the first priority of the department is to ensure the availability of essential commodities.
He said that the State has around 18,60,159 NFSA beneficiaries.
Further stating that ensuring rice to NFSA and PMGKY beneficiaries every month is not an easy task, he sought cooperation and suggestions from all.
 He continued that the department regularly checks and monitors the price list of 19 commodities listed as essential.
The State Commission and District Commissions have also been set up to hear the complaints of unusual price hikes from consumers.
MLAs N Loken Singh, AK Mirabai Devi, Alfred Kanngam Arthur, Kh Joykisan Singh, Th Lokeshwar Singh, M Rameshwar Singh took part in the zero hour discussion.