Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, September 16, 2009:
Manipur Loumi Lup today alleged that state agriculture minister is working in the interest of the farmers of his Assembly Constituency and not in the interest of the farmers of the state.
Speaking to media persons today at a press conference held at Irawat Bhavan, H Ibobi, secretary, Manipur Loumi Lup also observed of non-reaching of assistant provided to the farmers through the DCs of the districts.
Where the funds amounting to Rs 7 crore which government claimed utilized in combating drought had gone when 50 percent of paddy fields are not be cultivated due to no water in the fields.
Members of the Manipur Loumi Lup have conducted a field survey from September 3 to 8 across the state.
Over 25,000 pari of paddy fields were found could not grow rice due to no water and rice growing in around 38,532 pari are in the position of not bearing fruits.
In short 50 percent of the fields will not carried out cultivation work, he said asking where the Rs 7 crore which government claimed utilized in combating drought had been utilized.
Many of the farmers did not get the benefits of the works taken by the government since the declaration of drought in July this year.
Instead of distributing the relief material to the farmer, agriculture minister distributed the materials only to the farmers of his Assembly constituency, Nambol A/C.the minister is not doing works in the interest of the state but only for his A/C.Even though funds for assistant to the farmers were released to the DC, majority of the farmers could not avail the benefits.
An amount of Rs 80,000 release for assistants to the DC, Bishnupur district, is yet to reach to the farmers.
He further said that the body will take help of the RTI to produce a white paper on the funds utilized by the DCs in taking up measures to combat drought and assistants to the farmers.
With a memorandum consisting of 15 point charter of demand, Manipur Loumi Lup has drawn the attention of the Prime Minister of India to relief the hardships of the farmers due to the drought in Manipur recently, he further told reporters.
Farmers of the state which represented 80 percent of the total population is facing hardships owing the drought occurred in the state.
There is apprehension of facing food scarcity in the coming days in the state.
In the memorandum copies of which were also forwarded to the Union agriculture minister, state chief minister on August 29 which includes 15 points demands expressed concern over the degrading ecological balance in the state due to over deforestation in the hills of the state.