Imphal, October 21 2009: The Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) of Saikul Sub-Division in Senapati district has allegedly stalled payment of due wages to the job holders under National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) in the sub-division on the insistence that each of them should first join the Micro Insurance Policy of the LIC.

In protest against such undue imposition of the SDO Saikul identified as Dr K Shyamsunder, a joint meeting attended by 104 village chairmen and secretaries was held at the office of Kuki Inpi Saikul unit at Saikul Bazar today.

The meeting demanded immediate transfer of the SDO from Saikul Sub-Division and resolved to launch intense agitation if the demand is not met.

During the course of the meeting, the participants were made to understand that SDO Dr K Shyamsunder has not attended office since the day of his posting.

However, he has been forcing that every job card holders and one of their respective family members should join the Micro Insurance Policy of the LIC.

In case of non-compliance, the officer does not release the master plant of the due wages of the job card holders under NREGS.

As per the policy, an individual has to pay Rs 550 as the first premium.

So in case, another family member of the job-card holder has to join the policy, then the total premium amount to be paid is Rs 1100 .

While discussing that no other SDO has imposed such condition in any part of Manipur, the meeting took serious note of the fact that SDO Dr K Shyamsunder tried to convince that chairmen and the secretaries of the Village Development Councils that the move is being made at the instruction of the Chief Secretary of the State as well as the Deputy Commissioner of Senapati district, though the relevant orders have never been made public.

It has said that the SDO is also in control of the cheque books of the bank accounts of the job card holders of every villages that have been opened by the respective village chairmen and the secretaries at Urban Co-operative Bank, BT Road.

The encashment of the same is also done by the SDO himself apart from withholding some of the job cards and enjoying the benefit himself.

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