Newmai News Network Imphal | January 2 Manipur Deputy Chief Minister, Yumnam Joykumar Singh has reiterated that the State Government is fully committed to all round development of Manipur, irrespective of the hill and the valley. "The State Government has no intention to ignore or hurt anybody or any agency," the Deputy Chief Minister said while addressing a press conference at his official chamber in Manipur Secretariat today. "Our intention is to extend support and help all agencies which are meant for the welfare of people," he added. Rubbishing media reports alleging that he and another cabinet colleague misused power by "ignoring, harassing and blackmailing" six Autonomous District Councils (ADCs), Joykumar insisted that the report was "completely baseless and false". "We have every reason to reject that report, that, no such act has been done so far," he said. Clarifying that excess authorisation proposals have to be examined, Joykumar said, proposals made by the finance department regarding salaries payment of Education department of six ADCs "has to be considered very carefully as it has many due components like salaries payment of 133 primary teachers and 894 chowkidars which have been regularised in 2016-17 amounting to a total of around 19 crores". According to him, a total of around Rs 11 crores has also been proposed by the finance department for backlog payment of arrears which were applied in 2009-10. "Such payments need to be audited and therefore, a consultation was held on 23rd December, 2017 along with Principal Secretaries of Finance and Tribal Affairs and Hills", he added. He further said, a committee to audit the same will be formed with members from Finance, TA & Hills departments and once it is audited, all due payments will be made.
