Imphal, August 17 2010: The Manipur Renewable Energy Development Agency (MANIREDA) today distributed 294 solar lamps to the villagers of seven villages under Khengjoy block in Chandel district.

The solar lamps were distributed to the villagers under the Romote Village Electrification Programme in a function at Khongjarol village.

MLA Thangkholun Haokip, DC Chandel H Dileep graced as chief guest and president respectively.

Director of MANIREDA, L Manglem and vice chairman of ADC Chandel Langhu Langhring attended as guests of honour.

Speaking as chief guest of the function, MLA Thangkhloun Haokip lauded the SPF government and said many governments had ruled the state since country's independent but any of the governments had so far taken up development works like that of SPF government ruling the state at present.

Under the initiative of the government, MANIREDA had distributed solar lighting system in the pass but instead of using the same at their homes, villagers selling out it in Imphal or Burma were found.

This is not a good sign and works to check whether the villagers are using the lamp in their homes will be conducted henceforth, he added.

He also advised the villagers to avail the benefits given to them in appropriate manners under various welfare programmes taken up by the government cautioning that if not properly utilized, it will be hard to availing further facilities from the government sponsored projects or schemes.

The chief guest also explored the role to be taken up by the village chief stating that their role in utilizing the facilities given to the villagers is great.

Chiefs should convince the villagers on the proper utilization of the benefits, they availed from government.

In this speech as president of the function, DC H Dileep admitted that many difficulties are facing by the villagers in the interior and far flung areas of the Chandel district which are not reaching by the officials of the district.

The remote areas are still to see the light of development as they were keeping abandoned by the pass government for such a long time but the present government is giving special attention to these places and the fruit of the government initiative started bearing, the DC added.

Even though Central government released huge fund, if the state government fails to take initiative, all will gone in vain and state government will also not invest the fund to the place where works are not taken up properly.

Dileep further said that if any difficulties arose in taking up developmental and welfare works in the far flung areas of his district, helps of the security establishments deploy in the district will be taken.

As the Autonomous District Council has started functioning, all developmental and welfare works could be accelerated, he added.

Director of MANIREDA, L Manglem said both hill and valley of the state are lagging behind in development and shortages are facing in both the areas.

But the union ministry of new and renewable energy is giving emphasis in the hill villages and the solar light system are distributing under its special programme.

As the scheme is implementing under certain guidelines to be followed at the time of implementation, there is no rule that all villages will be covered by the scheme and if the beneficiaries were found not using the materials supply under the scheme, further implementation of the scheme will be suspended.

The solar light system was distributed to 294 households of seven villages through the village chiefs.

The villages were Gamphazol, Jangnomphai, Sejang Theose, Thingpai, K Selhaida, Nabinda and New Wahengda.

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