Cabinet gives nod to Rs 13.3 Cr compensation for affected farmers

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jul 24: The State Cabinet has approved a Rs 13.30 crore compensatory crop package for farmers affected by the "law and order crisis".
The Phase-II compensatory crop package will provide compensation to 2072 farmers.
The Cabinet gave the approval during its meeting at the Durbar Hall of the CM's Secretariat today. Chief Minister N Biren Singh chaired the meeting.
The Cabinet also gave its nod to revise minimum wage of unskilled, skilled and skilled labourers and others as recommended by the State Advisory Board on Minimum Wages.
After the Cabinet sitting, Information Minister Dr Sapam Ranjan spoke to reporters at his residence at Lamphel Sanakeithel and said, the second phase of the compensatory package worth Rs 13.30 crore will benefit a total of 2072 farmers whose agricultural fields have failed due to the present crisis in Manipur.
In the first phase, last year, the Government sanctioned Rs 18.91 crore as compensatory package for affected farmers, he said.
It may be noted that hundreds of acres of agricultural fields at the fringes of the valley and lying at the foothills have been wasted and left unattended due to threats posed by constant attacks by Kuki militants from the hills.
While several large and noted farmers' bodies had estimated more than 9,719 hectares of agricultural fields were wasted last year, the Centre released only a Rs 18.06 crore relief package estimating only 5127 hectares of fields were wasted.
Since then, farmer bodies have been demanding the Government to release a package for fields that were not covered or assessed by the Government.
Briefing the media, Dr Ranjan said the Cabinet today has approved and agreed to table the Budget Documents 2024-25 during the upcoming Assembly session which is scheduled to begin from July 31.
The Cabinet has also agreed to produce the AG reports, The Manipur Contingency Fund Bill, Demand for Excess Grants 2018-19, The Manipur Goods and Services Tax (7th Amendment) Bill among others in the House.
Further, the Cabinet has given approval for recruitment of 4 Public Finance Management System (PFMS) experts through the Directorate of Treasuries and Accounts (DTA), Manipur.
The Public Financial Management System (PFMS) is a financial management platform for all plan schemes. It facilitates payments and exchequer control, Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) and monitor fund flow mechanism among others.
The experts are required to convert Central sponsored schemes into action. Without a complete PFMS, the Centre would not sanction funds, said Dr Ranjan.
He further informed that the Cabinet has also  approved a proposal for the establishment of the National Law University, Manipur  by enacting the National Law University, Manipur Bill 2024.
The Bill will be produced in the Assembly, he said.
The Cabinet approved a proposal for amendment of Retired Chief Justices and Retired Judges of the High Court Manipur (Assistance and Facilities) Rules, 2020, and agreed to frame The Manipur Wakf (General) (Amendment) Rules, 2024.
The Cabinet approved a proposal for elevation/upgradation of 7 posts of Accountant to Senior Accountant in the Rural Engineering Department.
It approved a proposal for revision of minimum wages of 24 scheduled employments, as recommended by the State Advisory Board on Minimum Wages.
Dr Ranjan said the wages have been increased according to the All India Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers.
The minimum wage of unskilled labour has been approved to be increased to Rs 400 per day from Rs 225 per day. The minimum wage of Semi-skilled labour has been increased from Rs 248 per day to Rs 440 per day.
The minimum wage of skilled labour has been increased from Rs 273 per day to Rs 480 per day.
The minimum wage of Manager/Principal/Vice-Principal has been increased from Rs 333.33 per day to Rs 590 per day.
The minimum wage of chowkidar/peon/sweeper/cleaner/worker (employment in local authority) has been increased from Rs 255 per day to Rs 450 per day.
The minimum wage of part-time sweeper (others) has been increased from Rs 240 per day to Rs 420 per day.
The minimum wage concerning domestic works (part-time employees) such as sweeping/swabing/dusting/housekeeping/washing utensils/washing clothes has been increased from Rs 30 per hour to Rs 53 per hour.
The minimum wage for work such as cooking, baby care and old age care has been increased from Rs 35 per hour to Rs 62 per hour.