IMPHAL, Feb 24 � A session of the Manipur Assembly began with Governor VK Duggal addressing the house of 60 members today. The session will have six sittings till March 3.
Governor Duggal in his hour-long address said that the State economy is continuing to grow at a reasonably good pace. The growth rate was about nine per cent during the 2012-13 financial year which is higher than the average of 6.5 per cent registered during the 11th Five Year Plan. He also said the State�s finances are showing signs of improvement.
Regarding the insurgency problem in the State, the Governor said the government has invited underground groups to come forward for peaceful negotiation. In response to this, some UG groups have signed MoU and also Suspension of Operation (SoO) involving the State and Central Governments, he added.
The UG groups including UPPK, URF, couple of KCP factions, UTLA (SK Thadou group) have come forward and are in the process of rehabilitation.
Manipur has been awarded �Krishi Kramman Award� by the Government of India in small State category for the second consecutive year for foodgrain production, Duggal added.
The State Government has taken up steps to complete identification of the beneficiaries for early implementation of the National Food Security Act, 2013. Priority households will get 5kg of foodgrains per person per month and Antodaya Anna Yojana households will get 35 kg of foodgrains per household per month.
He said the government opened 715 new primary schools in the un-served habitations and has appointed 1,951 new Primary teachers for operating these primary schools in the last year. The government has also upgraded 158 primary schools to the upper primary and has appointed 574 Upper Primary teachers.
He informed a Manipur Bhavan will be constructed in Bengaluru while a Ima (ladies) market will be set up at Imphal to accommodate 2,000 women vendors at a cost of Rs 49.34 crores.
