STATE CELEBRATES 76TH INDEPENDENCE DAY

As celebrated across the Country, Manipur too celebrated the 76th Independence Day with pomp and gaiety at 1st Battalion Manipur Rifles Parade Ground today.

CM N. Biren Singh graced the celebration as Chief Guest. Speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly, Chairperson of Manipur Lokayukta, Cabinet Ministers, Chairman, Hill Areas Committee, Advocate General, Manipur, Members of Legislative Assembly, Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, high ranking officials Civil, Police, Paramilitary and Armed Forces also attended the Independence Day celebration among others.

Speaking on the occasion,  CM N. Biren Singh extended his best wishes to the people of the State and added that India had been celebrating its Independence Day every year on 15th August since 1947. However, with the completion of 75 years of India’s Independence this year, the whole country is celebrating the occasion as Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav with more fervor, he stated. He continued that the National flag has also been hoisted in every house from 13th August to 15th August as Har Ghar Tiranga campaign as a part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebration which was launched on 12th March the previous  year. The initiative would not only imbibe a sense of nationalism and love for the motherland to the youth but also make the public know the importance of the tricolor and respect its dignity, he added.

CM further mentioned that under the supervision of Prime Minister  Narendra Modi, different events are organized across the country as a part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav with much participation of the public. This shows the faith of Indians in the leadership of the Prime Minister, he maintained.

Stressing on the initiative and developmental works taken up by the Government, Shri N. Biren informed that the State Government is in process of setting up of 34 police outposts at all districts located along the international border and also along the Imphal-Jiribam National Highway. He continued that 1,647 cases had been registered, 2,104 persons had been arrested, drugs amounting to around Rs. 3,212 crore in international markets had been seized under the War on Drugs 1.0. Poppy plantations of around 14,000 acres had also been destroyed. While, 256 cases had been registered arresting 432 persons, seizure of drugs amounting to Rs. 818 crore and poppy plantation of 531 acres had been destroyed under the War on Drugs 2.0, he added.

Informing about the Manipur Vision Document 2047 and CM Dashboard which would enable real time monitoring of different schemes, the Chief Minister stated that Manipur bagged the top position at NITI Aayog’s India Innovation Index 2021 in North East and Hill States category. He maintained that various Institutions of Manipur including Lokayukta, State Information Commission, Manipur Human Rights Commission and Manipur Public Service Commission had been functioning smoothly. Apart from this, to ensure transparency in recruitment of Class III and IV posts of the State Government, the State Legislative Assembly had passed the Manipur Staff Selection Commission Bill 2022 recently.

Stating that the State Government had increased the budget allocation for Startup Scheme from Rs. 30 crore to Rs. 100 crore, he added that 5,790 Startups had been benefited with the scheme so far. He continued that the Centre for Invention, Innovation and Incubation Training had also been established under the PPP model. District Youth Skilling, Entrepreneurship and Employment Centres had been set up in all District Headquarters. Project had been taken up to provide 2000 youths with training in the IT sector.

CM informed that the Government had taken up measures to improve various roads under the 100 Days Action Plan. The Central Government had accorded approval for Rigid Pavement of roads within Imphal City. The project would be taken up under the Externally Aided Project of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, he added. He continued that the Imphal Ring Road project would also be started soon with the funding of Asian Development Bank.

Stating on the Agnipath Scheme, he expressed satisfaction that youths of the State would now be able to participate in the Agniveer recruitment rally in the State itself at Leimakhong. He also thanked the Marangching village authority, personnel of Territorial Army, NDRF, SDRF, and other armed forces for their tireless service in rescue operations conducted after the unfortunate landslide happened at Noney. He also expressed thankfulness to all the people of the State for their continuous support in every initiative taken up by the State Government for the development of the State.

During the celebration, Hon'ble CM accorded the President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service to Ksh. Rajen Singh, Jemadar, 1st Battalion Manipur Rifles. Police Medal for Meritorious Service were also presented to Inspector  P. Sanjoy Singh, Subedar, 2nd Manipur Rifles  Siro Ninglum, Jemadar, 5th IRB  O. Sheilya Khumancha, Sub-Inspector  Angoubi Singh Ningthoujam, Hav. Helen Haokip of 1stIRB and Hav. Atom Sobha Singh of 1st Manipur Rifles. Heisnam Laxmi, W/SI of Bishnupur District and . M. Priyadarshini Devi, W/SI of 9th IRB was presented with the Union Home Minister’s Medal for Excellence in Police Investigation for 2018 and 2021 respectively.

Superintendent of Police (SP), Thoubal District  Jogeshchandra Haobijam, SP, NAB  K. Meghachandra Singh, SP, Kakching District Shrey Vats and SI  Ramesh Singh were awarded with Chief Minister’s Trophy for Anti-Drug Campaign. Chief Minister’s Trophy for Outstanding Service was awarded to 1st Manipur Rifles’ Band Party. Inspector Laishram Khogen and Havaldar  Sorokhaibam Joykumar Singh were also presented with the Chief Minister’s Trophy for Community Service.

CM also handed over Chief Minister’s Award for Good Governance 2021-2022 to Informatics Officer, DIT Shri Raimeson WS for Individual Category. While for Team Category, the Award was presented to the Department of Information Technology, Planning and Development Authority, Higher Education, Oxygen Management Team, State Academy of Training, Department of Personnel, Home Department and Police Department.

Chief Minister’s Certificate of Recognition for the year 2022 was presented to the Team of Joint Search & Rescue Operations during the Noney Landslide Aftermath, All Personnel of Police Department for their effort and devotion to duty in ensuring a bandh and blockade free Manipur, Teams of Doctors, Nurses and Staff of Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences for conducting the 12st ever Kidney Transplant in a Government Hospital in Manipur and Staff of the Chief Minister’s Secretariat. Chief Minister’s Certificate for Specials Recognition was presented to the team of District Administration, Jiribam for their remarkable achievement in vaccinating all eligible persons of the district with at least one dose of COVID vaccine within a short period of time.

As a part of the celebration, Hon'ble CM hoisted the National Flag with Rashtriya Salute and also inspected the Parade formed up at the venue. The March Past Contingents included BSF Contingent, CRPF Contingent, Combined Manipur Rifles (6th and 7th MR), 3th IRB Contingent, Combined Civil Police (Male) Contingent (I/W & I/E), 9th IR (Mahila) Contingent, Combined Civil Police (Female) Contingents (I/W & I/E), Manipur Forest Contingent, Home Guard Contingent (Male), Combined VDF Contingents (I/W & I/E), Manipur Fire Service, Traffic Police (Women), 14th Battalion Sr. NCC, 65th Girls Sr. NCC and NCC SR. Air Wing. Commanding Officer, 2nd IRB T. Lalboi Haokip was the Parade Commander.

Simultaneous hoisting of National Flags at the Perimeter of 1st Manipur Rifles Parade Ground by Uniform personnel of Police Department and performances of cultural troupes were also the highlight of the celebration at 1st MR Parade Ground.

After the celebration at the 1st Manipur Rifles Parade Ground, CM visited the Haipou Jadonang Park, Keishampat and Rani Gaidinliu Park, Mantripukhri and led the other dignitaries in offering floral tribute to the two freedom fighters.