IMPHAL, March 21 - Governor Dr Najma Heptulla today said the State government will make all-out efforts �to ensure a bandh and blockade-free Manipur for unhindered all-round development of the State�.
Addressing the first session of the 11th Manipur Legislative Assembly here, the Governor said, �My government, to address the issues of unemployment and insurgency faced by the State, will utilize all resources in the State for creation of employment opportunities for the youths through skill development and capacity building in both the organised and unorganised sectors.�
Stating that the government is fully committed to establishing a pro-people government for the service and welfare of the people of Manipur, she added that the government will make all-out efforts to make Manipur one of the most developed States in the region by harnessing the potential of the �Act East Policy�.
On Planning and Finance, the Governor said that the State had a tentative Plan size of Rs 4,349.55 crore and based on the likely availability of additional resources, it has been revised to Rs 5,255.27 crore, including Rs 2,613.77 crore as Central share for various Centrally-sponsored schemes. �Priority continues to be accorded to development of infrastructure, particularly economic infrastructure,� the Governor added.
On connectivity, she said an understanding has been reached between the State and Central authority concerned for introduction of helicopter services, besides improving the National Highway. �There is good progress in the Jiribam-Tupul railway line work,� she added.
Expressing happiness over the successful and peaceful conduct of the recent Assembly election in the State, she said Manipur Police has achieved commendable results on the counter-insurgency front despite immense problems, like shortage of manpower, infrastructure and other logistic constraints.
Ensuring effective implementation of the National Food Security Act in the State, she said the government will work towards providing free education to women till graduation.
On power sector, she said 2,424 of the 2,582 villages in Manipur (2011 Census) were already electrified as on December 2016 and the remaining 158 villages will be covered in the near future. All urban households and 80 per cent of rural households have access to power and the remaining ones shall be covered by 2019, she added.
On agriculture and allied sectors, she said the Manipur Organic Mission Agency has been created under which farmers are mobilised to promote certified organic commodities focussing on specific crops.
Informing that four towns have been declared Open Defecation free (ODF), she said plans are on to declare all the urban areas of Manipur as ODF before October 2 this year.
�My government is also committed to improve the digital or internet connectivity all over the State,� she said.
