Govt working sincerely to uplift weaker sections: CM
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR
Imphal, August 22 2021:
While asserting that the government of Manipur has been working sincerely with an aim to uplift the poor and weaker sections of the state, chief minister N Biren declared the government will not relent from its commitment to resolve all outstanding issues and address socio-economic grievances of the masses.
Addressing the gathering, including select beneficiaries at the launch programme of Chief Minister's COVID-19 Affected Livelihood Support Scheme organised by the Social Welfare Department at the CM secretariat here on Sunday, the chief minister stated that the government is for the people and is always ready to serve them.
Informing that an officer of social welfare department would be deputed to Manipur State Co-operative Bank (MSCB) Limited located at Old Assembly Road, he said that public who have sincere will to start an activity for earning their livelihood could meet the officer stationed at the bank and avail loan without requiring any guarantor.
N Biren further stated that the Chief Minister's COVID-19 Affected Livelihood Support Scheme was introduced considering economic dislocations, which had severely affected the livelihood of a large percentage of the population leading to an inability to maintain a basic minimum standard of living.
He mentioned that applications have invited for the scheme through proper survey at the district level and added that a total of 22,336 applications including 13,651 from among street vendors, 4,890 transport drivers, 3,680 school van drivers and 145 artistes have been received so far.
Out of the applications received, 7,943 had been verified and first instalment of Rs 2500 each, amounting to around Rs 1.56 crore, would be distributed to 6,276 applicants on the day.
The second instalment for the same would be disbursed within September this year, he added.
Encouraging all to avail benefit of the scheme, CM Biren appealed to the public to be sincere and abstain from making any false document to get the benefit while applying for any schemes or scholarships to ensure the benefit reaches the targeted and eligible beneficiaries.
He informed that with sincere functioning of the government authorities more than Rs 2,000 crore has been invested in hill areas so far under Minorities and Other Backward Classes (MOBC) Department for welfare and development of the hill districts.
Stating that the role of sincere and dedicated leaders is very essential in taking the state towards progress, the chief minister appealed to the public to elect leaders who aim to work for their welfare as their representatives.
Regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the chief minister expressed his belief that the pandemic must be one of the consequences of human activities that disturbed the balance of nature for the last many years.
He appealed to the people to know the importance of nature and contribute in preserving it by planting trees so that we could minimize occurrence of certain disasters in future.
N Biren also appreciated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his dynamic leadership quality, the timely initiatives taken up to contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic and easing the hardship faced by the people by supplying free rations.
He also appreciated the deputy commissioners, superintendent of police, officials of different districts, medical staff, civil society organisations and others for their tireless efforts in controlling the spread of the virus.
He then informed that around 6,000 applicants have been identified for Start-Up Scheme, which was put on hold for some time due to the pandemic.
But with easing of the pandemic situation, interviews are going on now.
He added that the loan amount under the scheme would also be disbursed very soon.
He further informed that Meeyamgi Numit and Hill Leaders' Day would be revived soon considering the improving situation of COVID-19 pandemic.
Education minister So-rokhaibam Rajen, while delivering his speech, maintained that the state had shown much improvement in many sectors, whether in law and order, education, health infrastructure, water supply and others, under the leadership of N Biren.
Highlighting the initiatives taken up by the ehief minister for controlling the pandemic and welfare measures taken up to ease the hardships faced by the people, he stated that people should acknowledge the good work of the chief minister.
Delivering his welcome speech, secretary to chief minister Ningthoujam Geoffrey stated that the scheme was introduced under the supervision of the chief minister considering the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the livelihood of a large percentage of population, especially vulnerable groups who do not have stable sources of income.
He further informed that the mode of application for the scheme has been made simple so that applicants do not face any problem, adding that only eligible people should apply for the scheme so that the benefit reach the targeted groups.
During the function, financial assistance under Chief Minister's COVID-19 Affected Livelihood Support Scheme was distributed to some select beneficiaries consisting of street vendors, van drivers, public transport drivers and artistes among others from different districts.
Water resources minister Letpao Haokip, tribal affairs & hills minister Vungzagin Valte, agriculture minister Oinam Lukhoi, MLAs, chief secretary, administrative secretaries, deputy commissioners, senior government offcials and beneficiaries of the scheme attended the programme among others.
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