State blamed for hijacking award
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 19 2011: Thoubal Zilla Parishad Adhyaksha has accused the State of hijacking the Satyen Maitra Memorial Literacy Award which should be conferred on Thoubal district.

Speaking to media persons at Thoubal DRDA office complex, Chairman of Thoubal DRDA and Thoubal Zilla Parishad Adhyaksha MV Ataur Rahaman said that the Satyen Maitra Memorial Literacy Award was distributed by the President on September 8, the International Literacy Day at Manekshaw Centre, Delhi Cantonment, New Delhi.

Based on its performance, Thoubal district was selected for Satyen Maitra Memorial Literacy Award by the National Literacy Mission Authority (NLMA) .

Subsequently, NLMA Director General Jagmohan Singh Raju sent a letter to State Principal Secretary (School Education) J Suresh Babu to send an authorised person from Thoubal district to receive the award at New Delhi.

Responding to the letter, State Literacy Mission Authority Member Secretary and Additional Director (Adult Education) A Saratkumar sent a letter to Joint Director, Adult Education Department, Government of India Ram Krishna Surya on August 29 stating that the award would be received by Principal Secretary (School Education) Dr J Suresh Babu and that he would be accompanied by Thoubal District Literacy Samiti Chairman MV Ataur Rahaman.

The Principal Secretary, by going alone and receiving the award himself, the State has hijacked the Satyen Maitra Memorial Literacy Award from Thoubal district, Ataur Rehaman said.

The adult education programme which was re-christened Sakshaar Bharat by Prime Minister Dr Manmo-han Singh on September 8, 2009 is being implemented in 175 districts across the country.

For Manipur, the programme is being implemented in Thoubal, Chandel, Tamenglong and Senapati districts.

MV Ataur Rehaman said that he has been dedicating himself to proper implementation of the programme in Thoubal district as Chairman of the District Literacy Samiti together with his subordinate staff since 2010 .

So far 64 adult education centres have been opened in Thoubal district under the same programme, and these centres have been inspected by NLMA officials.

In case the State Government does not hand over the award to Thoubal district at the earliest, a complaint would be submitted to the President of India, said Ataur Rehaman.

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