Fish mela not off Govt menu yet: Dingo
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 04 2023: Even as many organisations and lups have asked the people to forego the Ningol Chakkouba festival, the Government is considering holding the annual fish mela not in festive mood and not necessarily for the Ningol Chakkouba festival but in the interest of fishermen who have spent a considerable amount of time, labour and money rearing fish.

Speaking to a group of media persons, Fisheries Minister H Dingo said that dropping the annual fish mela in view of the ongoing crisis to extend solidarity to the displaced Meetei folks will seriously affect the eco-nomy of those in the fish farming profession and the State at large.

He also said that not holding the fish mela will discourage the fishers who have been rearing fish by investing their time and money to sell them at the time of Ningol Chakkouba.

Fish mela not off Govt menu yet: Dingo

Saying that they receive many opinions on whether to hold this year's fish mela or not, H Dingo said that there are also some people who want to organise a simple feast for the people at relief camps on the day of Ningol Chakkouba.

Dingo said that he personally wants to organise the fish mela as it would help in uplifting the economy of the State to some extent.

Maintaining that the Social Welfare Department has also been assisting the displaced people by taking up different relief and rehabilitation works, he continued that over 400 staff of the department have been working as nodal officers at different relief camps.

Preparation is underway to start providing old age pension, widow pension and other Government benefits to the people at relief camps, he said and added that the Chief Minister has also started providing Rs 1000 (monthly) to senior citizens at relief camps.

Continuing that the Government has been conducting psychological counselling at relief camps too, Dingo maintained that NGOs under the Social Welfare Department have been helping in the education of displaced children.

Altogether 22,938 children are taking refuge at different relief camps including 76 orphans and 267 wards of single parent, he said, adding that 53 children, however, have been sent to children homes.

The department is also taking up different welfare programmes for specially abled children, Dingo continued and conveyed that 308 PWDs are taking refuge at relief camps.

At least one wheelchair each has been given to 346 relief camps in Manipur, he maintained.