New clauses tumble out of action plan

IMPHAL, January 12: The action plan submitted by Manipur chief minister W. Nipamacha Singh to Union home minister L.K. Advani on January 6 has more to it than meets the eye. Though the plan was made out to be consisting of 12 clauses, it actually has 26. The chief minister had earlier announced that there were 12 points in the plan. The original copy submitted to the home minister, which is now available to this correspondent, has 26 points. And it is different from the one showed to the Press by the chief minister and his deputy L. Chandramani Singh. Sources said Nipamacha Singh, fearing controversy, concealed many clauses. And for each of the 26 counts, the chief minister had pledged time-bound implementation. The action plan said services of all persons recruited in violation of the memorandum of understanding with the Union finance ministry would be terminated within 45 days. This, however, excludes recruits in the department of police, jail, fire services, Manipur Rifles, Hindi teachers and death in harness schemes. The government had absorbed over 2,500 people in the government sector even after signing the MoU with the finance ministry banning all recruitments. Another controversial point in the action plan states that the government will consider reduction of the retirement age of police officials to 56 years. This may also be adopted for other departments. The decision on the subject has to be finalised within 60 days. According to another clause, nearly 5,000 surplus staff from other departments will be redeployed in the police department after proper training in a phased manner within a year. The action plan also says that the government will finalise within January 31, the abolition of all direct recruit posts lying vacant since April 1, 1999. As regards the release of salary for November to December 2000, the action plan says the government will ensure the payment of salaries only when Central assistance is released. The government also has to defer encashment of all cheques issued by it after November 1, 2000 till March 31, 2001. The plan also makes it mandatory for the government to initiate administrative changes in the police set up within 15 days. The 1st and 5th Battalion of Manipur Rifles would be deployed outside the state and they would be replaced by two battalions from the CRPF. The plan also says any securitymen losing his weapons to militants will be suspended within 24 hours and would be liable to be dismissed. Inquiries into such cases have to be completed within 90 days. A counter-insurgency plan will be prepared and approved by the state-level apex security co-ordination committee within 30 days.