Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 27:
Orange Growers� Association, Tamenglong has threatened to boycott the 3rd State Level Orange festival this time if Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh fails to keep the promises made during the last Winter Festival cum Orange Festival.
Announcing this while talking to mediapersons today, general secretary of Orange Growers� Association, Tamenglong Tunding Golmei recalled that Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh who attended the 2nd State level Inter Festival cum Orange Festival as chief guest had promised to give incentive prize of Rs 5000 to each of the Orange growers who participated in the said festival.
However, the promise has not been kept although just a few days are left for the 3rd festival, he complained.
In all, 103 Orange growers under Orange Growers� Association, Tamenglong participated in the last festival and the total amount of the incentive prizes to be given as announced by the Chief Minister is Rs 5,15,000, he said, while pointing out that the villagers had trudged long distance on foot to bring the Oranges from the interior parts for participation in the festival and had sold the same at Rs 6 per kg.
Although the Chief Minister had not given the incentive prizes as promised and announced in the function, some people have started raising the question whether the amount had been swindled by the Association, Tunding Golmei rued.
If the Chief Minister does not hand over the incentive prizes of Rs 5,15,000 within December 5, the Association would boycott the upcoming 3rd Level Orange Festival including the Orange Queen contest, he stated firmly.
The last edition of the festival was organised by Horticulture Department of the State Government in collaboration with Horticulture Society of Tamenglong.
The festival was a big hit.