Steps on to include 30% local content in NEP — Manipur Education minister

Our Correspondent

Imphal, July 27 (EMN): Manipur Education Minister Th Basantakumar on Tuesday said that the state has started to implement National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and steps are on to include 30% of local content on it.

“For this discussion had already been initiated under the leadership of the chief minister in presence of the experts,” Minister Basantakumar said.

Basantakumar was replying to the question raised by opposition congress MLA K Ranjit (Sugunu) on the second day of the ongoing second session 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly.

He also informed that there are 28 aided high schools with good infrastructure in the state, adding that there is plan for conversion of some aided high school with good student enrolment to full fledged government schools. Under the School Fagathansi Mission, two schools from each constituency are selected. 

Replying to a question by opposition Congress MLA Surjakumar Okram(Khangabok), Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. S Ranjan, said that steps have been taken up to deal with the rising COVID -19 cases in the state such as increase of surveillance and testing, ensuring bed availability for COVID patients, ensuring availability of medical oxygen and intensifying COVID vaccination drive.

He also said that payment of honorarium to the contractual staff engaged for COVID related duties has been cleared till December, 2021. After generating Specific Identification Numbers (SIN), payment of wages for the staff engaged during the period from January 2022 to March 2022 will be cleared, he added.

In another question raised by MLA Kh Joykishan Singh, Fishery Minister H Dingo Singh said the department of Fishery has taken up PMMSY (Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana) and Loktak Livelihood Mission for fish farmers in the state. Under PMMSY, grants are given to the beneficiaries for establishment of hatcheries, construction of ponds and setting up of bio-floc units and under the Loktak Livelihood Mission, grants are provided to the fishermen for establishment of cage culture, pen culture, Seed production units etc.

The Manipur Legislative Assembly passed a total amount of INR 187,02,69,000 for Excess Grants for the year,2017-18 in the house which included INR 11,70,72,000 for State Legislature, INR 139,98,47,000 for Finance, INR 27,63,84,000 for Labour and Employment, INR  5,57,08,000 for Textiles, Commerce and Industries and INR  2,21,58,000 for Sericulture.

In the day’s session, MLA K Ranjit Singh also moved a motion on the poor result of students of government schools in class 10 and 12 examinations.

In his clarification, Education Minister Basantakumar said the government schools were able to produce 15 subjects topper in the recently announced class -12 exam. He also said that pass percentage in the government schools had also been increased. The government is also planning to conduct special coaching for the students appearing for class 10 and 12 exams, he said.