Biswajit urges to call off strike
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 20 2021:
Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Thongam Biswajit met representatives of the Manipur State Panchayat Parishad and urged them to withdraw their stir today but this failed to cut ice with the representatives.
He met the representatives of the MSPP at his Sanjenthong residence.
After meeting the members of the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), Biswajit told media persons that the demands put forward by the Manipur State Panchayat Parishad are all legitimate and the State Government is taking up steps to grant them at the earliest.
The Government is not able to grant their demands at present owing to the financial condition the State is in.
He is in touch with the Chief Minister and Finance Minister and efforts are on to release the funds meant for the PRIs, he said.
Besides the State lacking the resources, due to Covid pandemic, the Centre has not provided the means and ways to release the funds, he said.
Notably, the meeting between the Minister and the representatives of the MSPP failed to reach an agreement today.
The MSPP has been demanding release of the 15th Finance Commission fund, honoraria of Panchayat functionaries, wages of job card holders and implementation of the National electronic Fund Management System (NeFMS) .