Imphal, Jul 29: Peeved with the State's failure to take action against the alleged misappropriation of Central funds meant for the education sector among others, five tribal bodies of Manipur today submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh threatening to launch a series of agitation.

On July 18, the bodiesZeliangrong Youth Front (Assam, Manipur and Nagaland), Movement for Tribal Peoples' Rights, Manipur, Sadar Hills Youth Union, All Colleges Tribals Students' Organization, Manipur and Tribal Vigilance Forum, Manipurhad urged the State to rope in the service of the CBI to cleanse the mess within 10 days and pull up the corrupt and erring people.

"Since the 10-day ultimatum expired on Sunday and the State has also failed to take steps to probe the matter, we are all prepared to launch the stir for which a joint meeting of the five bodies would be convened here tomorrow to chalk out our line of agitation", said Johnson, secretary of Tribal Vigilance Forum.

In the afternoon the bodies sent the memo through fax to Okram , who is presently at New Delhi.

Copies of the same were also sent to Human Resource Development Minister and the State Governor.

Besides education, the bodies also highlighted the State's failure in distributing PDS items in the hill districts in the memorandum.

On education sector the memo said the Sarbha Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) programme in Manipur has failed to take off despite the amount released by the Centre .

Of the total amount of Rs 60,91,09,200 earmarked by the Centre more than 80 percent had already been utilized, however, it has left the general public dismayed as to how and on what purpose was such a huge amount was utilized.

Though the Government has not appointed even a single resource person for block resource centre and cluster resource centre, it utilized the same from the Education Department.

A large amount of money for payment of salary for such persons was withdrawn the memo said while questioning as to whom such a huge amount was paid and for what purpose? Rs 4,32,21,450 sanctioned for installation of computers in 15 schools have been misappropriated as none of these schools have been provided the same except for the Ukhrul Higher Secondary School.

On Public Distribution System, the bodies contended that every successive Governments of the State have neglected the hills districts.

"This problem has doubled during the term of the current Government.

All contract works have been awarded to underground organizations thereby making a mockery of a popular Government which is installed by the people through adult suffrage", the memo said.

It is an open secret that the PDS share of hills district have been sold off in the valley areas without delivering them to the poor hills people after obtaining contracts works for transportation of the items in collusion with minister and some officials." The tribal bodies demand for construction of FCI godown or chalk out any other possible arrangement all the hill districts so that all PDS items are delivered to the people.

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