Stop poppy cultivation: Letpao
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR
Imphal, December 19 2020:
Youth Affairs & Sports Minister Letpao Haokip appealed poppy cultivators of hilly areas to look for more viable and economical crops and activities while attending the thanksgiving cum opening of SDO/BDO Khengjoi office building at Chandel district yesterday.
This office building was part of the TD Block at Khengjoi, one of the many projects virtually inaugurated by the Chief Minister N Biren Singh on October 23 this year from the Durbar Hall of the CM's Secretariat.
Actual shifting and functioning of this said new office started from yesterday.
The TD Block was constructed under the Tribal Area Inclusive Growth Project and it consists of the BDO/SDO Office, quarters for officers and staff, bank building and a police outpost building with a security barrack.
MDS (Manipur Development Society) is the implementing agency and the construction work began in 2011.With the inauguration of the new office building, the villagers will now have easier and better access to all the Government welfare schemes and in obtaining important documents and certificates.
Earlier, the SDO/BDO Khengjoi office was functioning from Chandel district headquarter.
In his speech, Letpao said that the new infrastructure will benefit the residents of the nearby villages since they no longer have to bear the pain of reaching Chandel town to avail Government benefits.
He added that ben efits will directly reach to the doorsteps of the benefi ciaries through this office.
Letpao added that there is a trend in 'our State to uti lize MLA Local Area Funds mostly repairing roads and in building community halls' .
He said that these funds should be utilized on other purposes as well, the most important being identifying and developing sustainable livelihood options.
This will benefit the people, especially in hilly and less developed areas.
The Minister also appealed to the hill people not to indulge in poppy cultivation, but to shift to other economically viable crops.
He said that the present Government is always ready to encourage and support such activities that will enhance the economy of the people in remote areas.
Also, the Government will not tolerate poppy cultivation and illegal activities in any part of the state, he added.
He further said that an indane Gas Service Agency wiil come up in the area soon, and applauded the as sistance and role of the Indian Army in bringing development and always helping people residing in such remote areas.
SDO Khengjoy N Shokhongam Baite (MCS) said that Khengjoi, being situated around 150 km far from Imphal, is one of the least developed regions in the State.
With the inauguration of the new office complex there is hope for faster development in the area, he added.
The SDO also said that a transit hostel for ST boys, a PHC building, an ICICI Bank are some of the infrastructures that will come into this area shortly.
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