MGNREGA row: Intense stir likely in hill districts ahead of poll
Source: The Sangai Express

Kangpokpi, February 03 2022: The hill districts of the state is likely to witness intense form of agitation including highway bandh ahead of 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly Election 2022 as the hill area village chiefs decided to support Manipur Panchayat Parishad's stir over non-release of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) pending fund by the State Government.

The village chiefs of Kangpokpi district on Thursday held a crucial meeting at the district headquarters in the presence of Manipur Panchayat Parishad members over the non-release of MGNREGA pending fund.

After a threadbare discussion, the meeting unanimously resolved to support the agitation spearheaded by Manipur Panchayat Parishad with a positive response from other hill area village chiefs.

Speaking to media persons after the meeting, Laxmi Khatiwoda, vice president, Champhai Block Chiefs/Chairmen Association, on behalf of the village chiefs stated that they have deliberated minutely over the non-release of MGNREGA pending fund by the State Government and ultimately decided to support and endorse the Manipur Panchayat Parishad's stir and movement over the issue.

He continued that the village chiefs have also unanimously decided to carry out intense forms of agitation including highway bandh from February 9 if the state Government failed to release the pending amount of Rs 113.87 crore meant for payment of wages for MGNREGA sanctioned by the Centre before February 8 .

He also mentioned that the Central Government had already sanctioned Rs 333,08,74,000 on August 25, 2021 to the State Government of Manipur as Central assistance for implementation of MGNREGA for financial year 2021-22 and directed the State Government to transfer these funds along with State share to the State Employment Guarantee Fund for programme implementation within 3 days positively from the date of receipt of funds.

However, the State Government had released Rs 87 crore only against the sanctioned amount in August last year while keeping on hold Rs 113.87 crore meant for payment of wages of MGNREGA, he added.

Laxmi Khatiwoda continued that if the state Government remained adamant towards their demand and failed to release the fund, they would go ahead with the agitation in collaboration with Manipur Panchayat Parishad and other hill area village chiefs.

It may be mentioned that the Manipur Panchayat Parishad and elected Panchayati Raj Institution functionaries across the six valley districts of Manipur including Jiribam district had already resorted to various form of agitation against the non-release of funds for MGNREGA and other schemes being implemented through the PRIs.

After the boycott of Republic Day celebration, they had also imposed a 38-hour bandh in areas under the jurisdiction of Panchayats on January 27 .

Comment