Manipur govt announces fuel conservation, cost-cutting measures
Imphal, May 29
Responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal amid prevailing global challenges, the Manipur government on Friday announced a series of measures aimed at conserving fuel and reducing expenditure from the state exchequer, officials said.
A senior official from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said that a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh at the Civil Secretariat in Mantripukhri, Imphal, took several important decisions focused on fuel conservation and prudent management of government expenditure.
The official said that one of the key matters discussed during the meeting was the Prime Minister's appeal urging state governments and citizens across the country to adopt measures in response to the current global situation.
"The state Cabinet decided to implement several measures mentioned in the Prime Minister's appeal, including reducing the size of VIP convoys following a security review, initiating official work-from-home arrangements, freezing government-funded foreign travel, and taking steps to curb non-essential government expenditure," the official said.
In another major decision, the Cabinet approved the filling of 173 posts of Auxiliary Nurse and Midwife (ANM) in the Family Welfare Department with funding support from the Central government.
The Cabinet also approved a two-year age relaxation for all future recruitments yet to be notified by various state government departments.
The official further said that the Cabinet approved compensation rates related to land acquisition for the expansion of the Imphal-Jiribam and Imphal-Dimapur national highways.
According to the official, these decisions are expected to facilitate faster implementation and timely completion of the highway projects, which would significantly benefit the state's connectivity and development.
The Cabinet also approved the rationalisation of posts under the Manipur State Power Company Limited (MSPCL) to ensure adequate promotional avenues for employees.
"This reflects the state government's commitment to employee welfare and administrative efficiency," the official added.
Additionally, the Cabinet approved the extension of the critical 'Manipur Water Supply Project' funded by the New Development Bank (NDB).
It also cleared the Tourism Department's proposal for implementation of the 'Loktak Experience Project', aimed at developing Loktak Lake as an iconic tourist destination.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Honestly, these measures are too little too late. The global fuel crisis has been affecting common people in Manipur for months now. Freezing foreign travel for government officials is a no-brainer – why were they even traveling abroad while people struggle? And work-from-home? The internet connectivity in many parts of Manipur is pathetic. They should fix the basics first. Good to see the ANM posts being filled though (173 positions – better than nothing) and the highway expansion is crucial. Bhai, action speaks louder than photos of Cabinet meetings in the CMO! 😒
As someone from Imphal, I welcome the Loktak Experience Project! Loktak Lake is our pride – its floating phumdis and the Keibul Lamjao National Park are unique in the world. Developing tourism will create jobs for locals. But please Manipur government, ensure that this doesn't harm the lake's fragile ecosystem. We've seen too many projects damage the environment elsewhere. Also, filling ANM posts is great for healthcare – our maternal mortality rate needs improvement. 😊
Interesting to see these austerity measures from a state government in India. In the US, we've had similar work-from-home policies since 2020 but here it's framed as 'fuel conservation.' The VIP convoy reduction is smart – why does a Chief Minister need a cavalcade of 10 vehicles? The Imphal-Jiribam highway is critical for connecting Manipur to the rest of India via Assam. Hope the rationalization of posts at MSPCL doesn't lead to layoffs. Let's see. ✌️
Cabinet meetings in Mantripukhri are always full of promises. Reducing convoys? Good. Freezing foreign travel? Great. But will they also reduce the fuel allowance for ministers' personal vehicles? Probably not. The ANM recruitment is needed – our villages lack basic healthcare. And two-year age relaxation for recruitment is a small but meaningful
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