Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 06 2009:
Pradhans and Members of Gram Panchayats under Imphal West-I, supported by local people staged a protest demonstration against unaffordable monetary demands at Takyel Kolom Leikai today.
The protesters appealed to the concerned two UG groups to withdraw their unaffordable monetary demands.
They also used placards which read as "We would not accommodate any demand from the wages of NREGS", "Don't make unreasonable demands to Pradhans", "Don't threaten families of Pradhans" "Let Panchayat engage itself freely in development works" etc.
Talking to media persons, a Pradhan who was taking part in the protest demonstration, disclosed that a proscribed outfit demanded 30 percent of the amount sanctioned under State Finance Commission and 12th Finance Commission from 24 Gram Panchayats out of 28 GPs under Imphal West-I .
Above this, another UG group demanded Rs 50,000 each from Maklang GP, Phumlou GP and Leirenkabi Kadangband GP.
Further, the outfit asked the GP Members to convey the same message to other Gram Panchayats under Imphal West-I .
Urging upon the outfits to withdraw these demands, the Pradhan appealed to let Gram Panchayats participate freely in the development works taken up at village/grassroots level.
Another Pradhan decried that they were unable to execute the Rajiv Gandhi Drinking Water Mission, conceived with the objective to provide safe drinking water to every household in rural areas, due to perceived threats from UG groups and their harsh words.
It is reported that similar protest demonstrations would be staged at Maklang, Konthoujam, Kamong Yarou, Bamdiar and Changangei Gram Panchayats one after another.