Two Macha Leima staff suspended
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 05 2011: Stating that two employees of Macha Leima namely LC Bethebi and Gunileima have been rusticated on account of misusing the fund of the organisation and the loanees should not have any confusion over this issue, general secretary of Macha Leima T Demona has appealed to all the loanees for continue support and faith to the micro-finance scheme of the organisation.

Addressing a press conference at the office complex of Macha Leima here today in the presence of other executive committee members of the organisation, Demona accused project director (micro-finance) of Macha Leima LC Bethebi, her husband O Bhogen and former president of Macha Leima Gunileima of trying to mislead the public more particularly the loanees for their own vested interest.

Demona said that since 1997 Macha Leima has been extending loan through its micro-finance scheme to women of economically weaker section.

So far, there are over 2000 loanees under this scheme.

Since the launch of the scheme, LC Bethebi, who was in charge of project director of Macha Leima Microfinance has been using the bank passbook of the organisation.

But she has not been revealing out the amount taken for the project, interest accrued and other details to the executive committee.

Since the launch of the scheme, it is expected that around Rs 3 crores have been sanctioned for the operation of the project.

But there has been no transparency in the utilisation of this amount, Demona said, adding that Bethebi has also been using fake letter heads of Macha Leikai.

Demona further informed that on July 23, 2009, the executive committee was forced to adopt a draft resolution made by O Bhogen, husband of Bethebi.

The draft resolution stated that Bethebi would be in-charge of the project director till she attains 60 years of age.

Bethebi, Bhogen and Gunileima have also been found to be joining Birla-Sun Life Insurance policy with fund from Macha Leikai in 2007 .

The amount of the policy for each of them was Rs 99,348.Without the collective decision of Macha Leikai, they also joined hands with MANIREDA in organising Renewable Energy Day on August 20, 2010 .

Around Rs 3,00,237 that MANIREDA had provided in three instalments to Macha Leima for organising the event had also been misused by Bethebi.

The said amount had been misused without ever entering the bank account of Macha Leima.

Within one year of holding the post of president after being the general secretary for around 4 years, Gunileima connived with Bethebi in carrying out many activities without the collective decision of Macha Leima.

Accordingly the executive committee suspended Gunileima from the post of president on August 30, 2010.Subsequently, the committee also removed Bethebi from the post of project director (microfinance) on December 28, 2010 .

Inspite of the suspension, Gunileima was found to be transferring money from the bank and going on field visit to mislead the loanees of Macha Leikai.

So, the incident of vandalising the head office of Macha Leikai by some misguided loanees on December 30, 2010 was very unfortunate, Demona said.

While appealing to the loanees for continue trust and support to Macha Leima, Demona said that loanees can repay their loan amount through the head office as well.

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