New Delhi: Parliament on Friday passed a bill providing for splitting the existing joint Manipur and Tripura cadre of the All-India Services and for separate cadres for each of the states, with Rajya Sabha approving the measure.
With passing of the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Amendment Bill, 2011, Tripura and Manipur will now have separate cadres each for the Indian Administrative Service, the Indian Police Service and the Indian Forest Service.
The Bill has already been passed by the Lok Sabha.
Replying to the discussion on the Bill in the Upper House, Minister of State for Home Affairs Mullappally Ramachandran said the Centre is taking care of the shortage of officers in the two states and has taken note of the suggestions made by various members.
On the issue of insurgency in the North-Eastern states, he said, “the Government of India is dealing with the problem of insurgency in North Eastern States with all seriousness.”
As regards violations of human rights in the area, he said the National Human Rights Commission is taking care of all such complaints.
To a query by Shantaram Naik (Cong) for having a separate cadre for Goa, the Minister said the state government does not want one.
Earlier, members cutting across party lines expressed “distress” over the Home Ministry taking almost a decade to create separate cadres for officers of the two states.
Participating in the discussion, Mani Shankar Aiyar (Cong) appeared critical of the Home Ministry taking such a long time in doing so.
It is very distressing that a very simple matter of bifurcating of cadres took nine years, he said, adding that had the Union Home Ministry displayed an element of urgency, the measure would have been implemented many years ago. He said creation of separate cadres will lead to speedier development of the area.
Lamenting the poor development in North Eastern region, Aiyar said the “poor attendance” in the House proved that issues concerning the region were not accorded attention.
He disagreed with apprehensions that separate cadres for Manipur and Tripura will affect promotion avenues of officers.
Aiyar said the bifurcation will also help Manipur as a dedicated cadre for the state will be able to resolve the problems concerning the state in a more effective manner. He also lauded Manipur’s contribution in sports and bureaucracy. Participating in the discussion, Gyan Prakash Pilania (BJP) said the issue of bifurcation of the cadre for Manipur and Tripura is pending since 2004 itself.
Noting that the delay defeats delivery, justice and development, Pilania said the bifurcation will help in bring a more peaceful, efficient and effective administration in the two states.
Narendra Kumar Kashyap (BSP) while supporting the bill hoped that SCs, STs and OBCs would get their share and quota in government jobs while a separate cadre of officers for the two states is created.
Jharna Das Baidya (CPI-M), who is from Tripura, said it was necessary to have separate cadres to ensure speedy development of the area. She thanked the government and members for supporting the bill.(PTI)