CM intervenes as Ranjit, Vashum spar over fund issue
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, February 28 2023: The Budget Session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly witnessed heated exchange of words between the Ruling and Opposition members on Monday.

The slugfest between the two sides erupted in the House over alleged withdrawal of more than Rs 18 crore by a managing director of Manipur Milk Producer Cooperative Union Limited out of Rs 30 crore released by the Centre between the years 2017 to 2022 under the National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD) scheme.

When the demands for grant for animal husbandry & veterinary including dairy farming amounting to Rs 194,25,36,000 was moved for consideration, Opposition member K Ranjit raised policy cut motion while stating that the minister concerned had also responded on the matter to his starred question asked during the assembly session held on February 3, 2023 regarding NPDD scheme.

The minister had informed that Rs 30,17,85,000 was approved for the scheme between the 2017 to 2022 fiscals and Manipur Milk Producer Cooperative Union Limited is implementing agency.

The minister had also replied that Rs 9,18,80,000 was released in the first phase while Rs 9,53,10,000 out of the Second phase amount of Rs 14,10,91,000 was released leaving Rs 4,57,89,000 as the balance amount.

The minister also clarified that regular audit was done though the general body meeting could not be held due to Covid pandemic since the last one on December 3, 2019.Later, during a joint inspection of beneficiaries with minister Khashim Vashum, it was found that no audit was done, Ranjit maintained and insisted for a thorough investigation to expose those involved in fund misuse as to ensure that the genuine farmers avail benefit of government schemes.

In his reply, veterinary minister Khashim Vashum said that his reply to the starred question in the last assembly session about conducting audit was a mistake and investigating on the matter seriously.

He also assured to conduct a departmental enquiry into the alleged report of fraudulent withdrawal of NPDD fund as probe by the House Committee would take time.

Reacting to minister's reply, K Ranjit said Manipur Milk Producer Cooperative Union Limited was formed under Society Act and it has separate rules and regulations.

Cooperative department has to give approval to nomination of veterinary department.

He said that from March 26, 2018 till June 30, 2020, a joint director of veterinary department clung onto the post of managing director of the union and had withdrawn huge fund on the sly.

He, thus, accused the minister of providing false information.

As the minister and Opposition member continued to spar, chief minister N Biren Singh intervened and said that the matter is serious and many society and cooperative societies in the state are acting at will as government cannot interfere in their activities.

He also said that the duty of managing director nominated by veterinary department is to sign on board's approved document only and the issue came to light due to division within the union.

After chief minister assured to conduct departmental enquiry into the matter and place a report within one month, K Ranjit withdrew his policy cut motion and the House later passed the demand.

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