Imphal, October 06 (NNN): Movement for Tribal Peoples' Right, Manipur (MTPRM), All Colleges Tribal Students Organisation, Manipur (ACTSOM), Zeliangrong Youth Front (ZYF), Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (TKS) and Sardar Hills Youth Union (SHYU) have said that the joint press statement against the Tribal Development Minister was made not only by ACTSOM and MTPRM but also by other hill based social organisations - TKS, ZYF, NSUC and SHYU.

Mention may be made that these tribal social bodies had earlier announced that they would call a 48-hour Manipur bandh from October 13 midnight demanding the removal of Tribal Development Minister Phungzathang Tonsing from the Council of Ministers.

Leaders of these six organisations who came to the office of Newmai News Network today, countered TD Minister Phungzathang Tonsing�s statement where the Minister had said that out of 121 school buildings to be constructed under the Autonomous District Councils (ADC) 72 school buildings have been constructed.

Refuting the Minister�s clarification, the six hill based organisations stated that the exact number of school buildings to be constructed is 142 as per the order No 2/198-CHA dated September-11, 2003.These organisations further stated that only 42 school buildings have been constructed and not 72 school buildings as stated by the TD Minister.

�If 72 school buildings have been constructed then the TD Minister should furnish and publicise the names of the remaining 30 schools�, demanded the organisations.

The six organisations also reminded the TD Minister that due to his negligence to utilise the money in time the amount released by the 11th Finance Commission lapsed.

�Why did Rs.2.53 crores get lapsed during 2004-2005 and who should be held responsible�, asked the six organisations.

The organisations demanded that the lapsed amount meant for the tribal people should be �brought back�.

The organisations charged that crores of rupees deposited by the Government contractors as security deposit had been withheld without any reason.

These organisations also asked as how the backlog amount got transferred to the State account.

�Was it not due to the inefficiency of the Minister concerned�, asked the six social organisations.

It also alleged that the Minister in question had purchased GI sheets by spending to Rs 4 crores without the approval of the Work Advisory Board.

�So in this regard the Minister should produce a white paper on district-wise distribution of the GI sheets,� said the organisations.

These six organisations also demanded a white paper on the schemes/programmes of Horticulture, Animal Husbandry and Agriculture that had been taken up since last year.

It pointed out that Phungzathang had created history by deputing an Under Secretary (Hills) to the Government of Manipur as Joint Account Operators with DDO of the Tribal Development Directorate.

�This is the first time to have happened in the history of Manipur,� they said.

They dismissed the clarifications made by the TD Minister in today�s dailies as an eye-wash.

Comment