No more scheme rice, cash to UG groups
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 04 2011:
There would be no deduction of any percentage from the Mid-Day Meal rice and cash for any UG group until the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly elections are over.
A decision to this effect was adopted by Assistant Inspectors of Schools (Valley) .
A meeting of valley AIs was held today in connection with the arrest of Moirang AI M Nimai and M Robin who runs a grocery at Moirang Lamkhai on the charge of selling off Mid-Day Meal rice.
One AI, on condition of anonymity, informed The Sangai Express that Mid-Day Meal rice for the current September, October and November are yet to be lifted.
The allotted quantities of rice for these three months would be lifted but there would be no deduction of any percentage of rice or cash for any UG groups, the AI said.
Saying that they would appeal most politely to all armed groups not to take any percentage share from Mid-Day meal in the form of rice or cash, the AI informed that today's meeting decided to stop lifting rice if the armed groups refuse to honour their appeal.
On account of the repeated acts of intimidations including bomb attacks at the houses of AIs, there was no AI who did not sell off rice to armed groups, the AI confessed.
The same fact was also known to police.
As the armed groups would not take their percentage in the form of rice, the AIs were compelled to sell off rice to pay the armed groups' share (percentage) in cash.
In addition to the pressure from police for selling off rice, the AIs have been enduring extra burden because of aspiring candidates' arm-twisting tactics to have their say in their attempt to woo voters.
The quantity of rice sold off by the Moirang AI was worth only Rs 50,000 .
Notwithstanding the amount, the AI has been victimised very ruthlessly.
Though what the AIs have been doing should not be done, they have been compelled by circumstances and their misery has been compounded after some intending candidates have politicised the matter.
Taking serious note of the unfolding situation where the AIs can be victimised repeatedly, today's meeting decided to stop payment of any percentage share from Mid-Day Meal scheme either in the form of rice or in cash, the official added.