Plant processing unit lies defunct for 3 yrs
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 20 2014:
Manipur Feed and Medicinal Plants Processing and Cold Storage Cooperative Society Limited which was set up to preserve seasonal fruits and other horticulture produces has been lying defunct since the past three years.
Now, the society's office complex located at Lamphel has been transformed into a cow shed.
Asem Momon who once worked at the unit as production supervisor said that the society was set up' in 1979 and it was preserving and processing seasonal fruits from time to time.
However, all its activities came to a grinding halt when a new management team took over the society about three years back.
The processing unit was set up under the State Govern- ment's Cooperative Society.
Even as the Cooperative Society was approached repeatedly to revive the processing unit, the concerned authorities paid no attention.
Moreover, remuneration of many staff working in the society have not been paid although they have been working there since the past 10 years.
Workers of the society field at complaint at Court in 2012 pleading for payment of their due remunerations.
At the same time, they were urging the concerned authorities to revive the processing unit.
Even though the society is an undertaking of the State Government, its office complex is being used as cow shed and grazing ground by some individuals, Momon said.
It is crucial to revive the processing unit in the larger interest of the farmers of Manipur, he asserted.
Former marketing officer Bihari also urged the concerned authority to pay due wages of workers who have now retired from the society.
He too appealed to the concerned authority to re-activate the defunct unit.