Pradhans suspect foul play
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 26 2016: Many Pradhans have raised a strong suspicion that the State Government is indulging in nepotism and discrimination in the process of selecting the best Gram Panchayats.

Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club here this afternoon, Toubul GP Pradhan W Borpati said that discriminatory attitude has disheartened Panchayati Raj Institutions apart from impeding development of rural areas.

The Ministry of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj awards different prizes to Gram Panchayats which perform excellently.

The awards include Panchayat Sashakti Karan Puruskar, Rashtriya Gaurav Gram Sabha Puruskar and the award for good work in the implementation of MGNREGS.

The awards carry a cash component of Rs 10 lakh.

The Directorate of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj constituted the State Panchayat Performance Assessment Committee (SPPAC) and the committee visited different parts of the State between November 23 and December 2 last year to select the best GPs for the 2015-16 awards.

Altogether 16 GPs were short-listed out of which SPPAC selected Toubul, Wangoo-Terakhong, Phayeng, Kyamgei, Waiton and Pangaltabi GPs for this year's awards, Borpati said.

However, when the Ministry came out with the list of winners, they named Phayeng, Phubala and Khundrakpam GPs.

With the exception of Phayeng, the two other GPs were not even included in the SPPAC's short-list.

The three GPs were given the awards during National Panchayat Day observation at New Delhi on April 24 .

Selection of GPs which were not included in the short-list smacks of partiality and discrimination on the part of State Government officials, she alleged.

Wangoo-Terakhong GP Pradhan P Baleshore and Kyamgei GP Pradhan Koijam Subash were also present at the press meet.

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