Choaba takes on Social Welfare Minister
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN

Imphal, April 22 2015 : State BJP President Th Chaoba has demanded that the Social Welfare Minister resign on moral grounds over the recent death of an old age pensioner while waiting for her pension money at 1st Manipur Rifles Ground.

Addressing media at the party office at Nityaipat Chuthek on Wednesday, the Manipur BJP Chief said his party is now ready to expose the adverse side of the various developmental projects being taken up by the State Government with the help of Right to Information (RTI) Act.

He said that the party, through RTI, will conduct investigation into the alleged repeated sanctioning of funds for building dams under Minor Irrigation and will also find out the exact number of persons who have been deprived of Old Age Pension Scheme.

Moreover, the party will have a close watch on giving Old Age Pensions to individuals who are 30-40 years old and also retired Government employees.

Th Chaoba also condemned the alleged silence maintained by State Social Welfare Minister AK Mirabai on the death of an elderly-woman when waiting for her turn to take pension at 1st MR Ground some days back.

He appealed to the minister and the department to formulate a proper policy to rectify the pension distribution system and to make an arrangement to deliver the Old Age Pension at the doorsteps of the beneficiaries.

Referring to the ongoing issue of VDF personnel, Chaoba criticised the State Government for recruiting more personnel against the Centre-approved strength of 1000 personnel.

RTI Cell Convener of BJP Manipur Pradesh, M Poireihanba, who was also present at the press meet, demanded that the State Government should appoint an RTI Commissioner at the earliest.

Poireihanba also revealed that he had filed an RTI with the Imphal East Deputy Commissioner seeking information on the Local Area Development Fund used since 2002 by the MLAs of Imphal East.

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