Mass protest demonstration
Source: The Sangai Express
Chandel, February 17 2016:
Joint frontal organisations of Chandel organized a mass protest demonstration against disbursement of a meagre amount of 7-day wages under MGNREGA for the year 2015-16 and relief fund for natural calamities at the district headquarters today, reports our correspondent.
A large number of MGNREGA's job card holders including women, village chiefs, leaders of social organisations took part in the sit-in protest.
A public meeting was also held wherein Bd Betha, vice-president, Committee on Protection of Chakpi River, Ng Bliss, president of Naga Women Union Chandel, KL Ruwngkham, chairman of Maha Area Chiefs' Association, Sng Lumdil, president of Anallon Chiefs' Association spoke and expressed dissatisfaction over the alleged unreasonable attitude of the State Government.
Leaders of the frontal organisations also submitted memoranda addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister of Panchayati Raj & Rural Development Chaudhary Birender Singh through the Deputy Commissioner of Chandel.
Speaking to media persons, TS Beton Anal, RTI activist and president of Social-Economic and Development Organisation ( SEACDO) said that hailstorm, flood and landslide struck Chandel last year which caused devastating damages in many parts of the district including loss of 10 lives.
The State Government has released a relief fund of just Rs 1 crore out of which 40 lakh of ex-gratia payments would be provided to the families of the deceased and remaining amount is for providing assistance to other victims of natural disasters.
He further said that despite releasing sufficient fund amounting to more than Rs 161 crore in 2015 by the Central Government, the State Government has provided only 7-day wages and 1 day material components under MGNREGS for 2015-16 .
Demanding to release the remaining wages of job card holders under MGNREGA at the earliest, Ts Beton warned of organising a mass protest rally against the State Government and surrendering all the job cards.
He also said that the people of Chandel would approach the High Court if the demands are not met at the earliest.