Manipur to get security funds

IMPHAL, March 14: The Union home ministry has agreed to release Rs 4 crore as security-related expenses to the Manipur government within this week. The ministry's clearance came after Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam requested reimbursement of expenses incurred on account of counter-insurgency operations. With the state facing financial crunch, the government has been diverting funds from other sources for maintenance of law and order and counter-insurgency operations. Koijam, during his recent New Delhi visit, urged the Centre to release funds for reimbursement to ease the problems being faced by law-enforcing agencies here. He hoped that the state would be given more funds from time to time for security expenses on the basis of detailed reports and proper utilisation. Koijam also met representatives of the Confederation of Indian Industries in New Delhi. Sources said the CII authorities agreed to provide computers and the requisite training free of cost to former militants and others. This was to help the youth take up various self-employment schemes, sources said. The Chief Minister is likely to visit some areas of Imphal to find suitable places to launch the schemes soon. The government would provide infrastructure for the CII schemes at Imphal, the sources added. Koijam, meanwhile, has warned of possible riots in case the Centre extended the ongoing ceasefire with the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) to Manipur, despite opposition from the Manipur government and the people. He urged the Centre to involve all insurgent outfits of the Northeast in the peace talks by declaring unilateral truce on the lines of Jammu and Kashmir. The Chief Minister had told Samata Party leader and Union defence minister George Fernandes that the state government was against any move to extend the truce to the Naga-inhabited areas of the state. Meanwhile, the PMO informed the Chief Minister that it was willing to provide funds to the Loktak Lake Development Authority under the non-lapsable fund for five years subject to the retrenchment of surplus staff. The 11th Finance Commission had earlier refused to allocate any funds for the purpose on the ground that excess staff had been recruited. Sources said Koijam had assured the PMO that staff list would be pruned. Koijam also called on Union agriculture minister Nitish Kumar and urged him to give a special package for the development of agriculture, horticulture and dairy in the state. Kumar, it is learnt, has asked Koijam to submit the package immediately for necessary action.