Women body mulls stir
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 20 2012: Setting July 20 as the deadline for allotting office plot, All Manipur Women's Social Reformation and Development Samaj has threatened to launch intense agitation in case the Government fails to honour the demand.

In pursuit of the demand, banner-holding members of the samaj took out a march with the Chief Minister's official bungalow as the apparent destination.

However, a police team prevented them from proceeding forward at the Sanjenthong point after which a delegation was allowed to head for the CM's bungalow.

However, as the CM was reportedly out of station, the delegation went to Secretariat office chamber of Social Welfare Minister AK Mirabai to whom a memorandum highlighting the Samaj's demand was presented.

Besides conveying the Minister's assurance that she would present the case to the CM on the latter's arrival from new delhi, Nupi Samaj general secretary Th Ramani told newspersons that the women's organisation formed in 1975 was duly registered under the Societies Registration Act in 1978 after which an office plot of 0.14 acre size was acquired from the then titular king Okendro at near Palace Gate.

Highlighting numerous social activities and State issues undertaken by the Samaj, Ramani informed that the office plot was subsequently acquired by the Government effectively from September 23, 2004 for the construction of a cultural complex.

In addition to maintaining that the Samaj used to generate monthly income of Rs 10,000 by leasing out shops constructed at its plot, she also contended that at the time of Government acquisition an alternative plot was assured by the then SPF Government headed by O Ibobi Singh.

Even though the Samaj office was temporarily shifted to BOAT complex the Government assurance for an alternative site is yet to materialise inspite of over seven years of eviction from the original site, she said.

Stating that a meeting held today and attended by representatives from all its affiliated units decided to pursue the office plot demand, Ramani also lamented that repeated intimation to the CM for a meeting has not been reciprocated by the latter.

Affirming that the Samaj will go ahead with its plan of intense agitation in case a definite stand of the Government on the matter is not conveyed within July 20, Ramani also informed that copies of the demand will also be handed over to the three lady MLAs of Manipur namely O Landhoni, Nemcha Kipgen and AK Mirabai.

The memorandum copy was presented to AK Mirabai in today's meeting at the latter's Secretariat office chamber, she added.

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