Imphal, May 02: Crying foul over the undue delayed in releasing the remaining loan amount, All Manipur Selected SEGP Dairy Beneficiaries Association, 200506 has threatened not to repay the loan already granted if the remaining loan amount is not released to the beneficiaries at the earliest possible.

Addressing a press conference at the office of the MSF here this afternoon, Association secretary N Dinesh recalled that on May 5, 2006, Manipur State Co-operative Bank notified that Rs 1.23,500 would be given as loan to each of the 133 selected beneficiaries in the trade of dairying under Special Employment Generation Programme, 2005-06.Out of this, Rs 40,000 was given to each of the beneficiaries as first installation for construction of the cowshed.

However, after this, the remaining amount of Rs 90,000 has not been given to the beneficiaries till date.

The Association has already submitted memorandum to the Chief Minister, the Director of Veterinary Dept and other relevant authorities urging for releasing the remaining loan amount.

But no response has been received in this connection so far.

When the Association approached the Manipur State Co-operative Bank in this regard, the Bank authority informed that papers related to releasing the remaining loan amount had been forwarded to Manipur Livestock Development Board Limited.

Subsequently, as per an order issued by the Director of Livestock Board on November 4, 2006, notified that the remaining loan amount of Rs 90,000 is meant for purchasing 3 cows and out of the total estimated cost of Rs 30,000 for each cow, a sum of Rs 12,000 each would be deducted as cost of transportation and communication.

As the Association opposed to this proposal, a joint meeting of the Planning, Bank and Board was held on Feb 25 this year and it was agreed that the livestock would be purchased from the local market in accordance to the aspiration of the beneficiaries.

Chief Minister himself had given his approval to this proposal and accordingly the matter had been directed to the State Level Committee.

However, Chief Secretary who is the chairman of the State Level Committee objected and the released of the remaining loan amount has been stalled.

It is really unfortunate that such a policy has been adopted toward the people who are trying to self employed themselves with loan assistance.

Out of the total remaining about of Rs 90,000 to be received by each of the beneficiaries to deduct Rs 36,000 from each of them is unreasonable.

If the deadlock over releasing the remaining loan amount continues that we would not repay the loan amount already sanctioned for construction of shed.

The remaining loan amount should be released and made available to the beneficiaries at the earliest possible, the Association secretary demanded.

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