Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 20 2010:
With the Regional Office of NABARD at Imphal not being able to function properly on account of frequent transfer of its officials in the wake of undue pressure for sanctioning projects, there is said to be every likelihood of shifting the regional office to Guwahati.
NABARD has been providing funding in term of crores through over 30 NGOs for taking up various developmental activities in the State.
So, shifting of the regional office would be a great loss to the State, Federation of NGOs has expressed concern.
Addressing a press conference in this connection at the regional office of NABARD, Lamphel today afternoon, advisor of Federation Amu Kamei said that over and above the developmental activities being taken up with funding through NGOs, the regional office of NABARD has also been collaborating in the activities of Government Departments like Fisheries, Horticulture, Agriculture, Manipur State Co-operative Bank, Manipur Rural Bank, etc.
On account of the efficient functioning of the regional office, the amount of fund provided by NABARD to Manipur has also been increasing.
However, in last part of July last, one G Alex, who is the secretary of Samaj Vikash Kendra, an NGO functioning from Mahabali Maning Leikai came along with two other persons to the office room of officer in-charge of NABARD AB Das.
After overpowering the officer in-charge, they forced him to sanction a project which was submitted the previous day and of which no formalities have been started, he disclosed.
Following the incident, officer in-charge AB Das was summoned to the head office of NABARD and subsequently got posted at Patna.
Furthermore, seven more officers have been transferred from the regional office one after another and leaving only three officers to run the office currently, he informed.
To ensure that the regional office is not shifted, a letter had been submitted to the Chief Minister on Saturday last seeking his intervention from the side of the Federation, Amu Kamei added.