Imphal: The fifth session of the Manipur Legislative Assembly for the financial year 2023-2024 commenced on Wednesday, amidst heightened security due to the prevailing situation in the state. Governor Anusuiya Uikey addressed the House during the inaugural session, which will consist of five sittings and continue until March 5, 2024.
This marks the first assembly session of the year and the second since the eruption of violence in the state on May 3. Notably, ten legislators, including two ministers, representing the Kuki-Zo people, were absent from the assembly. While no official statement has been released, their non-participation is believed to be linked to the ongoing situation in the state.
Governor Uikey, in her address, highlighted the achievements and projects undertaken by the present government over the last year. Following her speech, an obituary reference was observed.
On Tuesday, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh inaugurated the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) in the Legislative Assembly. The launch event was attended by Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata Singh, Ministers, MLAs, Chief Secretary Dr Vineet Joshi, Director General of Police Rajiv Singh, and Administrative Secretaries, among others.
Speaking as the chief guest, Chief Minister Biren Singh termed the launch a historic moment under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He emphasized the government’s vision to become the third-largest economy globally in the next five years and highlighted the importance of NeVA in transforming India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.
The NeVA project aims to facilitate paperless assemblies, promoting transparency, accessibility, accountability, and effectiveness in democracy, according to Chief Minister Biren Singh. He stressed the significance of the project for the environment and the economy, envisioning a digital platform connecting all legislatures in the country.
CM Biren Singh also acknowledged the recent launches of the Vahan Application by the Transport Department and the Digitization & e-Archiving of Manipur Gazette.
Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata Singh emphasized the digital nature of the current world and NeVA’s goal to connect legislatures digitally, promoting a paperless environment in the House.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Satya Prakash, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, and Mission Leader NeVA, congratulated Manipur Assembly for joining the platform. He described NeVA as a symbol of the nation’s commitment to leveraging technology for democracy and governance enhancement.
The NeVA platform allows members access to comprehensive digital resources, including legislative documents, committee reports, and debates. A mock-training session for members was also conducted.
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