Rs 565.65 crore pension fund pending: BD Behring
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, February 19 2023: Citing pending payment to pensioners, MGNREGS wages and recruitment results, as well as vacant posts in different government departments, former MP BD Behring has expressed con -cern over the financial instability that the state is facing and cautioned that such a challenging situation could pose hurdle in implementing policies and programmes of the government.

In a statement, the former MP said that Manipur has received many awards and medals in various fields including national and international sports events in the last 5-6 years.

Yet, the state is facing significant challenges and uncertainty when it comes to financial stability.

Some of the issues regard ing pending payments of pensioners were highlighted in the local dailies on January 15, this year.

The ex-MP presented a detailed status of the pending payments for 45,000 pensioners and 13,000 family pensioners, which amounted to Rs 565,65,69,374 as on January 20, 2023 .

The amount includes Rs 17.84 crore for GPF final withdrawal, Rs 36.48 crore for leave salary/encashment, Rs 263.02 crore for commutation & gratuity (pension - 1st payments), and Rs 248.30 crore for commutation & gratuity (pension - 7th Pay ROP arrears) .

The figure does not include around 3000 employees, who will be retiring in January and February 2023.Besides, there are reports of pending salary for almost six months in some departments.

Moreover, it is learnt that a lot of payment and CDA are also pending for contractors as well as for suppliers, the statement said.

Behring also pointed out that from time to time, various reports of developmental activities taken up by the government, and numerous projects in the pipeline are highlighted through the media.

However, in reality there are serious debts to be cleared and it raises the question how the government could complete such projects when it does not have proper financial management system.

Further enquiring why the government could not do the needful to complete the pending projects before launching or implementing new ones, the former MP observed that keeping under wrap the financial overdraft underscores the government's inability to maintain transparency and accountability.

In another instance, the statement said, on June 23, 2022, the ministry of rural development sanctioned an amount of Rs 756.49 crore under MGNREGA, out of which only Rs 250 crore was released in 2022 for payment of wages for six districts.

A mere Rs 100 crore might have been released in January, 2023, he added.

In the past, numerous recruitments were announced in different departments such as Manipur State Power Distribution Company Limited (2019 - 1016 posts); Jemadar (2019); LDC (OA) & multi-tasking staff in Education (S); youth officers, LDC, peon, masseur, warden in youth affairs arid sports; account assistant, drivers and peon in treasury (finance department); transport department; directorate of CAF&PD; DM University: teaching & non-teaching staff.

The former MP questioned the reason for holding DPC if results are not supposed to be announced and why the government is not cancelling the recruitment instead of keeping the results pending for so long.

Out of all the DPCs that were held, only the results for 10th & 11th IRB, graduate teachers/Hindi teachers and RD& PR were announced.

Some of the candidates, who are awaiting results, might have passed away, Behring said while raising posers on fate of the recruitment of Grade-III & IV posts, which the government promised to announce soon.

He further stated that there are numerous vacancies to be filled through die-in-harness or on compassionate ground in various departments.

However, despite the availability of eligible candidates, the government is talcing long in filling up those posts, he said while enquiring the reason for deferring the matter.

The first order for die-in-hamess appointment was issued only in some departments like RD&PR, YAS, TA & Hills and home while others are still pending.

With so much of financial instability, it is impossible for the government to implement their policies.

Proper planning and programmes must be taken up to strengthen the financial position of the state before announcing any new schemes.

This will ensure efficient functioning of the government for fostering social well-being, the ex-MP said in his statement.

He opined that as the governments, both at the Centre and in the state, are from the same political party, the state government should request for a special fund to clear all the pending financial dues and new budget should be earmarked.

He expressed hope that the elected legislators of the state assembly will have an in depth discussions regarding financial matters, in the coming budget session 2023, in the interest of the state, especially on resource mobilisation to make the state financially stable and restore public confidence in financial matters.

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