Beneficiaries protest scheme delay
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 11 2013:
A sit-in-demonstration was staged under the banner of All manipur PMEGP (Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme) Selected Beneficiary Committee at Keishampat Lairembi community hall to protest delay in implementing of various programmes and denounce issuance of a new order by the Government for fresh selection of PMEGP beneficiaries when those already enlisted for the year 2011-12 are yet to be accommodated.
According to Committee executive member M Sunita 2011-12 programme beneficiaries were selected through an interview conducted by the PMEGP Task Force Committee.
Voicing resentment against failure of authority concerned to extend benefit to the selected beneficiaries, she also demanded withdrawal of the new order for fresh selection of beneficiaries.
Alleging favouritism by the programme implementation agency with the disclosure that some of the 2011-12 beneficiaries have already been provided relevant assistance/incentive, Sunita said non withdrawal of the new order as well as failure to extend benefit to all the previously selected beneficiaries will compel the Committee to launch different form of agitation.
While construing that inordinate procedural delay has been one of the reasons for the backlog in implementing various welfare programmes in Manipur, the executive member also explained that PMEGP has been specifically launched by the MSME Ministry to enable the educated unemployed youths sustain livelihood through self employment ventures.
Further informing that nearly 700 beneficiaries were selected for the 2011-12 programme, Sunita affirmed that memorandums highlighted disparities would be submitted to the President of india and the Prime Minister for necessary action on the matter.