CM clarifies over fund misuse slur in Veterinary Department
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, March 22 2012: Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh has clarified that the Veterinary Department had not misused Rs 50 lakhs sanctioned under Rashtriya Krishi Vikash Yojana (RKVY) for supplying piglets to 299 beneficiaries for the year 2009-10 .

He was responding to a calling attention motion raised by Opposition leader MLA Dr I Ibohalbi on the last day of the Assembly session today.

Moving the motion, Dr Ibohalbi said that the motion is being raised in the interest of the people and not to hurt the sentiments of anybody.

The truth behind the news report, which came out in Hueiyen Lanpao daily, needs to be clarified to the people.

Necessary measures should also be taken up to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.

Pointing out that implementation of RKVY scheme was started in the state in 2009 to give employment opportunities to educated unemployed youths of the state, Dr Ibohalbi maintained that the authority concerned should look into how much fund had been sanctioned for the year 2010-11 under RKVY scheme and whether the beneficiaries have been deprived of their benefits as alleged.

He also informed the House about alleged failure of supplying beneficiaries with chicks, tin and fingerlings under MOBC.

Responding to the calling attention motion, Chief Minister O Ibobi said that the Veterinary Department had taken up the initiative of implementing RKVY scheme, which is sponsored by the Union Agricultural Ministry, with a sanctioned amount of Rs 1 crore in the state.

Out of the total sanctioned amount, Rs 50 lakhs was allotted for construction of the Tarungpokpi Piggery farm where 50 piglets could accommodate.

The construction of the Piggery farm has been completed and the process for procuring the piglets is underway.

Another Rs 35.02 lakhs was also assigned for beneficiary oriented scheme for piggery development while the remaining Rs 18.98 lakhs was set aside for fodder development.

So, there is no question of misusing the fund sanctioned by the Union Agriculture Ministry.

The allegation published was nothing but hearsay without proper investigating on the issue.

MLA Kh Joykishan applauded the clarification made by the Chief Minister but said that more clarification is needed on the confusion created in the mind of the people.

We leave it to the wisdom of the public why the sanctioned fund for 2009-2010 has been lying un-utilised in the department even after the sanctioned amounts for two consequent fiscal years - Editor .

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