Fish farmers protest against alleged denial of financial assistance
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 29, 2012: Normal chores could resume at the Lamphelpat office of Directorate of fisheries only after security personnel were called in to break open the office gate, which was locked by agitated fish farmers this morning.

Fish farmers, under the banner of Imphal West Apunba Fish Farmer Adhoc Committee stormed the office to protest alleged denial of financial assistance and related information and consequently put the gate under lock and seal to air their grievances.

however, after a few hours the gate was reopened by the security personnel deployed at the office thereby facilitating resumption of normal chores.The Adhoc Committee is a joint body of fish Farmer Development Agency (FF-DA) and selected beneficiaries of Rashtriya Kishan Vikas Yojna (RKVY) of Im-phal West district.

According to Committee president Y Robindro and general secretary Sahagudin Chesaba, about 676 fish farmers, including 176 for FFDA member, were short-listed to avail financial assistance under the RKVY and FFDA programmes for the year 2010-11. Even though the exact number of beneficiaries is not known as the selection list was not made public those reportedly included in the select list were still denied the financial assistance till date, they contended while disclosing that groups of beneficiaries were intimated to receive the assistance amount at the private residences of Department officials after appending their signatures.

apart from lack of clarity on the number of beneficiaries the amount entitled to a beneficiary is also not disclosed as some beneficiaries claimed to have received Rs 3000 and some others Rs 4000 with the officials concerned citing procedural expenditure for the anomaly/deduction of the benefit amount, explained the Committee functionaries.

They further claimed that during an investigation conducted by the Committee members it came to light that a beneficiary of one scheme is entitled to Rs 13,000 and the other supposed to be Rs 15,000 each.

When the fish farmers tried to seek clarification from Directorate officials on the anomalies in the amount as well as number of beneficiaries they were denied access for which the gate was locked, stated Robindro and Sahagudin.

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