Manipur State Panchayat Parishad cautions of intense agitation
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 15 2023:
Manipur State Panchayat Parishad (MSPP) cautioned to take up stringent forms of protest including bandh, blockade etc along with the support from job card holders in the State from February 21, 2023 onwards if the Government fails to release the pending MGNREGA funds.
Addressing media persons during a press meet held today at Panchayat Bhawan, MSPP president Md Abdul Latif expressed discontent that the State Government has failed to implement the instructions of the Union and has failed to address the grievances of Panchayati Raj institutions.
He informed that the Government has failed to release the pending wages of the financial year 2021-22 under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 (MNREGA) which is really unfortunate.
In connection with the issue, an emergency meeting of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) was held today at MSPP office and took many resolutions, he added.
The meeting resolved to urge the State Government to release pending liability of FY 2021-22 which amounts upto Rs 506 crores as wages component along with material component of Rs 302 crores.
Further it appealed to the authorities concerned to conduct Panchayat election on time and to hand over devolution of power to Panchayats.
Md Abdul Latif
He continued that they have met with Union Minister RD & PR, Giriraj at his residential quarter in the presence of eminent Panchayat officials on February 8 last and presented their demands.
Subsequently the Minister assured that he will write to the Chief Minister and Chief Secretary to solve the issue at the earliest, he added.
Stating that the PRIs will continue their struggle until their demands have been actualised, he also strongly denounced the release of Rs 100 crores only by the Government on Feb 13 against the pending wage component of Rs 506 crores.
He cautioned that PRIs will be compelled to take up a series of agitations if the Government fails to release the pending funds by February 20 .