Chandel village chiefs protest
Source: The Sangai Express
Thoubal, December 03 2013:
Chiefs and chairmen of villages under Tengnoupal Block of Chandel district staged a protest rally at Tengnoupal Sub-Divisional Headquarters today against the implementation of MG NREGS Scheme and delay in releasing wages to job card holders by State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD) Manipur.
The protest rally was organised under the banner Village Chiefs & Chairmen's Association, Tengnoupal Block.
Around 100 village chiefs/chairmen and secretaries holding placards and chanting slogans against the implementation of MGNREGS by SIRD and demanding immediate release of wages to Job card holders staged the rally.
They proceeded to the office of SDO Tengnoupal where a memorandum addressed to the Governor of Manipur was handed over through SDO Tengnoupal.
While briefing the newsmen, Sk Angshel Lamkang, Secretary Village Chiefs and Chairmen's Association Tengnoupal Block said that the association strongly opposed the implementation of MGNREGS by State Institute of Rural Development as it is a Central Government sponsored scheme and it is against the guidelines of MGNREGS.
So, the said scheme should be implemented directly through DRDA as it was before.
Tm Holkhokhai Haokip who is the Chairman of the Association said that as the current financial is nearing an end, SIRD does not even release 50% work days wages to job card holders for the current year.
So, the concerned authorities should release 50 days wages on or before the forth coming Christmas.
He further warned that if the concerned authorities fail to fulfil their demands, the Association will be compelled to launch intense agitation including bandh on National Highways.
It may be worth mentioning that the Association boycotted the 5days training programmes on MGNREGS organised by SIRD which is being scheduled to be held from today.