Vendors' body clarifies
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 03, 2013:
With regard to the allegation that some women vendors of Khwairamband markets were given grants and loans by the Imphal Urban Cooperative Bank (IUCB), the Khwairamband Nupi Keithel Shinpham Amadi Shaktam Kanba Lup has clarified that the loans were taken through a society for development of Khwairamband markets, not in personal interest.
Speaking to media persons on the first floor of Keithel No 1 today, secretary of the Khwairamband Nupi Keithel Shinpham Amadi Shaktam Kanba Lup Th (O) Shanti said that they received an instruction from the Centre to form a society for women vendors of Khwairamband markets so that Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh would announce a special package for the women vendors during his visit to Imphal in November 2004. Accordingly, a society was formed by around 200 vendors of Khwairamband markets and the society was registered with the Manipur State Cooperative Society.
However, the Prime Minister did not announce any package for Khwairamband Keithel.
Nevertheless, three projects were submitted to NEC after consultation with experts.
NEC replied that they were willing to invest in Khwairamband markets provided the Government of Manipur was made the guarantor.
But the State Government refused to be guarantor.
Subsequently, members of the society approached IUCB for loan, Shanti said.
It was under Urban Credit Programme that loans were given to 117 vendors of Keithel No 1, 113 vendors of Keithel No 2 and 94 vendors of Keithel No 3. IUCB has no authority to give grants.
The grant was given as State share for development of the society by Cooperative office, Shanti clarified.
Regarding mismatching personal details like names and photographs with the ones given in vendor licences, Th (O) Rani said that vendor licences have changed many hands during the past seven years like from mother to daughter or daughter-in-law or from one person to another person in the form of selling off vendor plots or transfer of vendor plots following expiry of the original licensee though official process of changing the records were pending.