State to increase stipends for surrendered militants

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | July 31

Karam Shyam, minister in-charge of rehabilitation today informed that House that the state government has decided to increase the monthly stipends of surrendered militants to Rs. 8000 and 4 lakhs one time grant.

Karam Shyam was replying to cut motion moved by Opposition bench on demand No.34 rehabilitation during the ongoing budget session.

He revealed that the decision to increase the stipends was taken by the cabinet during a meeting convened on May 21 and to implement it the state is waiting for the approval from the ministry of Home Affairs.

The surrendered militants have been getting a stipend of Rs. 4000 monthly and a 2.5 lakhs one-time payment, which is deposited after three years from the date of surrender into their bank accounts as fixed deposit.

The minister further informed that altogether 584 cadres have surrendered individually to the government out of which 396 cadres have completed their vocational trainings.

Stating that 407 cadres surrendered after signing Memorandum of Understanding, he said that a total Rs. 26,36,5549 have been expended for building of designated camps, incentives for surrendering arms etc. Similarly, an amount of Rs. 6.85,3829 was also used for the expenditure of rehabilitation for individually surrendered cadres, he added.

Karam Shyam pointed out that the rehabilitation package particularly security related expenditure is fully funded by the Centre government.

He further pointed out that under the rehabilitation policy a total 40 surrendered cadres have been absorbed as riflemen in state force in 2005 and 15 cadres are under process to give employment (as linemen) in MSPDCL.

Informing that the present government has plans to further enhance the rehabilitation policy, the minister claimed that some of the cadres have come back to mainstream and leading a normal life.

With regards to clarification on numbers of Burmese refugees in the state, the minister in-charge of the rehabilitation, said on April 1, 1980 initially 67 numbers of refugees were given shelter by the Indian government at Leikun, who fled their country from the military regime.

In 1990 for their maintenance the ministry of Home Affairs sanctioned Rs. 2, 89,226 after which another sanctioned of Rs. 2, 84,982 was made by the state government in February 2016.

He said that of the total 54 refugees at present, four refugees are in Leikun, 13 in Moreh, two in Imphal, 25 at Churachandpur, one in MU and five in Delhi, two each in Komlathabi and Chandel.

With military regime over in Myanmar due process is under way in consultation with the Centre for their deportation, added the minister.

Chief Minister N. Biren Singh who is in-charge of tourism, responding to queries raised during the cut motion moved with regards to department said that the state is taking up all the possible steps to boost tourism sector in the state.

He maintained that the government is sending project reports for approval to DoNER ministry and North Eastern Council (NEC) and other source like Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) 

“We are trying our best to complete the projects which was left incomplete with funds from NEC, NLCPR and DoNER for this we have made a special proposal of Rs. 193 cores”, he said.

The chief minister further revealed that the government has also taken up new projects to further develop tourism spot in the state.

Proposal for development of Tharon cave, Tamenglong, Khangkhui cave in Ukhrul, etc. have been sent, he said adding that Rs. 5 crore have been sanctioned for Khangkhui initially. Another Rs. 15 crore has been sanctioned under NLCPR for the construction of Imphal view tower at Chingmeirong that overlook Imphal valley Loktak, further added Biren.

He claimed that numbers of foreign tourist have increased during the past few months, which are a sign of improving law and order situation in the state before adding even investors from Singapore, Malaysia and Macau, have shown their interest in the state.

Horticulture minister, Th Shyamkumar Singh, replying to policy cut motion on horticulture, noting the meagre amount of fund reflected in the budget for the current year assured the House to increase in the next fiscal year.

He further assured that the department will not leave any stone unturned to ensure that schemes and projects are availed to genuine beneficiaries particularly in the hills. To do so, he said the officials have been also instructed for monitoring various schemes through Geo-mapping.

Altogether, four demands amounting to Rs. 146, 75, 82,000 was passed by the House unanimously after the cut motions were withdrawn by the Opposition bench.

The demands passed by the House includes demand No.34 rehabilitation Rs. 4,24,14,000, demand No.41 arts and culture Rs. 23,82,41,000, demand No.43 horticulture and soil conservation Rs. 81,63,35,000 and demand No.45 tourism Rs.37,05,92,000.

The MLAs who participated in the cut motion and discussion were Kh Joykishan, D Korungthan, Alfred Kanngam Arthur, Surjakumar Okram, K Meghachandra, Dr Chaltonlien Amo.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | July 31

Karam Shyam, minister in-charge of rehabilitation today informed that House that the state government has decided to increase the monthly stipends of surrendered militants to Rs. 8000 and 4 lakhs one time grant.

Karam Shyam was replying to cut motion moved by Opposition bench on demand No.34 rehabilitation during the ongoing budget session.

He revealed that the decision to increase the stipends was taken by the cabinet during a meeting convened on May 21 and to implement it the state is waiting for the approval from the ministry of Home Affairs.

The surrendered militants have been getting a stipend of Rs. 4000 monthly and a 2.5 lakhs one-time payment, which is deposited after three years from the date of surrender into their bank accounts as fixed deposit.

The minister further informed that altogether 584 cadres have surrendered individually to the government out of which 396 cadres have completed their vocational trainings.

Stating that 407 cadres surrendered after signing Memorandum of Understanding, he said that a total Rs. 26,36,5549 have been expended for building of designated camps, incentives for surrendering arms etc. Similarly, an amount of Rs. 6.85,3829 was also used for the expenditure of rehabilitation for individually surrendered cadres, he added.

Karam Shyam pointed out that the rehabilitation package particularly security related expenditure is fully funded by the Centre government.

He further pointed out that under the rehabilitation policy a total 40 surrendered cadres have been absorbed as riflemen in state force in 2005 and 15 cadres are under process to give employment (as linemen) in MSPDCL.

Informing that the present government has plans to further enhance the rehabilitation policy, the minister claimed that some of the cadres have come back to mainstream and leading a normal life.

With regards to clarification on numbers of Burmese refugees in the state, the minister in-charge of the rehabilitation, said on April 1, 1980 initially 67 numbers of refugees were given shelter by the Indian government at Leikun, who fled their country from the military regime.

In 1990 for their maintenance the ministry of Home Affairs sanctioned Rs. 2, 89,226 after which another sanctioned of Rs. 2, 84,982 was made by the state government in February 2016.

He said that of the total 54 refugees at present, four refugees are in Leikun, 13 in Moreh, two in Imphal, 25 at Churachandpur, one in MU and five in Delhi, two each in Komlathabi and Chandel.

With military regime over in Myanmar due process is under way in consultation with the Centre for their deportation, added the minister.

Chief Minister N. Biren Singh who is in-charge of tourism, responding to queries raised during the cut motion moved with regards to department said that the state is taking up all the possible steps to boost tourism sector in the state.

He maintained that the government is sending project reports for approval to DoNER ministry and North Eastern Council (NEC) and other source like Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) 

“We are trying our best to complete the projects which was left incomplete with funds from NEC, NLCPR and DoNER for this we have made a special proposal of Rs. 193 cores”, he said.

The chief minister further revealed that the government has also taken up new projects to further develop tourism spot in the state.

Proposal for development of Tharon cave, Tamenglong, Khangkhui cave in Ukhrul, etc. have been sent, he said adding that Rs. 5 crore have been sanctioned for Khangkhui initially. Another Rs. 15 crore has been sanctioned under NLCPR for the construction of Imphal view tower at Chingmeirong that overlook Imphal valley Loktak, further added Biren.

He claimed that numbers of foreign tourist have increased during the past few months, which are a sign of improving law and order situation in the state before adding even investors from Singapore, Malaysia and Macau, have shown their interest in the state.

Horticulture minister, Th Shyamkumar Singh, replying to policy cut motion on horticulture, noting the meagre amount of fund reflected in the budget for the current year assured the House to increase in the next fiscal year.

He further assured that the department will not leave any stone unturned to ensure that schemes and projects are availed to genuine beneficiaries particularly in the hills. To do so, he said the officials have been also instructed for monitoring various schemes through Geo-mapping.

Altogether, four demands amounting to Rs. 146, 75, 82,000 was passed by the House unanimously after the cut motions were withdrawn by the Opposition bench.

The demands passed by the House includes demand No.34 rehabilitation Rs. 4,24,14,000, demand No.41 arts and culture Rs. 23,82,41,000, demand No.43 horticulture and soil conservation Rs. 81,63,35,000 and demand No.45 tourism Rs.37,05,92,000.

The MLAs who participated in the cut motion and discussion were Kh Joykishan, D Korungthan, Alfred Kanngam Arthur, Surjakumar Okram, K Meghachandra, Dr Chaltonlien Amo.

Read more / Original news source: http://www.ifp.co.in/item/2414-state-to-increase-stipends-for-surrendered-militants