TYCM warns of launching stir
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 03 2013: Tribal Youth Council, Manipur (TYCM) has warned of launching various forms of agitation including closing down/bandh of all Govt undertaking construction agencies other than Manipur Tribal Development Corpora-tion (MTDC) in the hill areas from July 10 if the State Government fails to pay special attention towards the proper functioning of MTDC.

According to a statement.

TYCM had submitted another memorandum containing 8 points of demands to Governor of Manipur on March 20, to which he has clearly stated that "there is an element of reason in their demands", thereby forwarding a letter seeking clarification from the Chief Minister.

The comment of the Chief Secretary has also been sought from the Office of the CM to which the former has asked the ACS (T A & Hills) to offer comment and prepare a draft reply on April 5, 2013.As such the Managing Director of the MTDC sent a draft reply being forwarded to the Under Secretary (TA & Hills), Govt of Manipur on June 4 last, the release observed.

This time, the attitude of the State Govt towards the hill areas will be clearly understood depending upon the materialization of TYCM's legitimate demands, it stated and added that willfully refusing to put into practice the mandatory provision of Article 371(C) of the Indian Constitution, the present Govt has made the Hill Areas Committee and different units/departments like the MTDC which fall within its purview to exist just for the namesake with all its well equipped staffs and capacities.

The release further said, against the Cabinet decision taken on June 29, 2009 and the State Govt order dated 30/04/2009 which has approved for the continuance of MTDC's functioning as an executive Agency for both Central and State Govt works in hill areas, the State Govt has been favouring other Agencies by superseding the legitimate authority of MTDC which is the lone Govt undertaking of Tribals/ Hills Corporation.

At the same time, the State Govt has totally ignored MTDC by not benefiting it with any sort of grant-in-aids since the last few years and that MTDC has been allowed only 3.75% as Agencies charge out of the entitled percentage of 11.75% and in-spite of all that the State Govt is not willing to pay/ bear the salaries of more than 100 staffs of MTDC, it added.

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