Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 26:
Reacting to the news item under the headline 'Rehab committee gets down ...' in the September 25 edition, the Communal Victims' Relief and Resettlement Association, Manipur (CVRRAM) has dismissed the report as unfounded and unfortunate.
Alleging that the report issued by Rehabilitation Committee" Hills Districts of Manipur through its chairman BR Guiling is an attempt to confuse the beneficiaries in particular and the public in general, CVRRAM contended that the Committee came into shape only in July this year that too after some individuals with vested interest learnt of the relief package sanctioned by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India.
Reminding that CVRRAM was formed in the year 2000 and is represented by village chiefs of the affected villages in the Kuki-Naga/Kuki-Zomi ethnic clashes, a statement endorsed by its president L Haokip and secretary Abraham Keishing maintained that CVRRAM came into being to highlight plight of clash victims who were ignored in the 1998-99 relief package of Rs 6.67 crore extended by the Union Ministry.
Contrary to the said sanction extended to victims in churachandpur and Chandel districts, despair of victims in other districts that were equally affected were left out from the relief package's purview, explained the Association and added that to address the disparity CVRRAM had to be formed to prevail both the Central and state authorities redress grievances of the suffering public.
While contending that formation of the Association had subsequently resulted in the rehabilitation scheme in June this year, the CVRRAM accused those behind formation of the unauthorised committees/bodies after June 2006 as elements with an eye to extract financial gains.
Among such groups, the Rehabilitation Committee" Hills districts of Manipur started collecting money from the beneficiaries and selling of verification forms, alleged the Relief and resettlement Association while appealing to all concerned to refrain from any activities that could delay disbursement of relief packages.
It also advised all the beneficiaries not to entertain advances of unauthorised bodies as related details on the relief package could be obtained from the Zomi Villa office of CVRRAM.