SHILLONG, March 3 - Meghalaya Governor Banwarilal Purohit today said the State was witnessing �very positive results� on the law and order front and underlined last year�s surrender of 117 militants and disbanding of an outfit as �significant� achievements.
Addressing the House on the first day of the Budget session of the State Assembly, Purohit said, despite certain challenges the State has remained by and large peaceful. �The most significant event in 2016 was the surrender of 117 militants and insurgent outfits.�
He also highlighted the disbanding of �one insurgent outfit in June, 2016 at Tura� as the other significant achievement of the State. He informed the House that the Government has created a conducive atmosphere to facilitate surrender of the militants and their subsequent assimilation into the mainstream.
He also said, the Government is taking earnest steps to quicken the process of separating the judiciary from the executive for swifter administration of justice. The separation has been completed in six out of eleven districts and work is on in the remaining districts. Separation at Resubelpara, Baghmara, Mawkhyrwat and Khliehriat will take place shortly, Purohit informed the House.
On finance, the Governor said, 3.8 lakh new bank accounts were opened under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana. �Social security schemes like Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Atal Pension Yojana have also received good response from the people,� the Governor said.
Moreover, Rs 72 crore bank loans have been sanctioned to about 14,000 persons in the State during the current fiscal under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, Purohit said. The Governor also informed that the State Taxation department is �fully geared up� for the smooth implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) that is likely to be rolled out in June this year.
Highlighting other developmental initiatives, Purohit informed the House that construction of two-lane Jowai Byepass has been completed while two-laning of Shillong-Nongstoin-Tura road is 96 per cent complete. Besides improvement of Shillong-Dawki road is underway, he added.
