Imphal (Manipur): Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Thursday launched the Permanent Housing Scheme for the displaced persons whose houses had been burnt down and damaged during the recent violence. During the launching of the scheme at Chief Minister’s Secretariat in Imphal, the Chief Minister also handed over the financial assistance for construction of permanent houses to some selected beneficiaries from Imphal East, Kakching and Bishnupur District under the scheme.

The Manipur state government had also proposed to the Central Government to provide an additional amount of Rs. 476 crores for monetary assistance, permanent housing scheme and management of relief camps.

Under the Permanent Housing Scheme an amount of Rs. 10 lakhs, Rs. 7 lakhs and Rs. 5 lakhs, for construction of damaged or burnt down pucca houses, semi-pucca and kutcha houses respectively, will be provided to more than 4800 beneficiaries across the State. The financial assistance will be provided in two installments. Beneficiaries can apply for the 2nd installment amount through the concerned Deputy Commissioners by submitting the photographs of ongoing construction using the 1st installment amount.

Speaking at the launching of the scheme, Biren said that the Government under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi had spent an amount of Rs. 399.82 crores for providing different types of relief assistance to persons and families who were affected by the violence which broke out from 3rd May this year. “Out of the said amount, Rs. 11 crores had been for setting up Manipur IT Centre for Exam, Rs. 4.5 crore for providing Television sets for various relief camps, Rs. 150 crores in construction of prefabricated houses, Rs. 101 crores in relief camps management for six months and Rs. 89.22 crore for providing nutrition and winter preparedness, including breakfast for children in relief camps”, said the Manipur CM.

He further said that the State Government had already provided financial assistance of Rs. 1000 each to people staying at relief camps for the 2nd round. Besides the financial assistance, labour card holders staying in relief camps had also been provided with Rs. 5000 each as assistance for education of their children. He also informed that the Government has taken up the process for providing beds for the displaced people, as the winter season has arrived.

Biren further informed that an amount Rs. 476 crores had also been proposed to the Central Government various other relief measures, which include Rs. 6 crores for 2nd round of monetary assistance of Rs. 1000 each to people staying at relief camps, Rs. 360 crores for Permanent Housing Scheme, Rs. 108 crores as second installment for relief camps management and another Rs. 2.5 crore for buying cycles for girls staying at relief camps.

The Manipur CM also appreciated the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister for providing timely assistance.

The government is monitoring all activities taking place in the State; he said and also warned that the Government would not remain as mere spectator to any crimes committed by anyone. While urging people to refrain from violence and bring up their grievances so that it could be solved through constitutional measures, he also appealed to the public to join hands and cooperate in the Government’s effort to restore peace in the State.

Regarding the missing two Meitei boys some days ago, the Manipur CM said that joint security forces are conducting search operations at suspected places. “Till now 12 persons who are suspected to be involved in the crime are arrested and are being interrogated. There is hope that more information will spill out from the interrogations”, he said.

Ministers, Members of Legislative Assembly, Chief Secretary, Security Advisor, Director General of Police, senior Government officials and beneficiaries also attended the launching programme of the permanent housing scheme.