Imphal, February 28: A total of Rs 24.70 crores has been provided to 6159 self help groups (SHGs) in the State under the Micro Finance Policy till September 30, 2007, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh has stated Responding to a question raised by MLA Dr Ng Bijoy of the MPP during the question and answer session of the State Assembly today, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, who is also in-charge of the Finance portfolio informed the House that under the Micro Finance Policy, a sum of Rs 7.29 crores was provided to 1483 SHGs which are linked with SGSY and Rs 17.41 besides another Rs 17.41 crores to 4676 SHGs through direct financing by the banks.

Among the banks, Manipur Rural Bank is leading in providing the loan facilities, the Chief Minister said, while assuring the House that efforts are being made to increase the loan amount being issued by the SBI.

The State Government will also look into the possibility of setting up a corpus fund so as to encourage the banks to further loan sanctioning provisions.

Replying to another question raised by MLA O Joy, the Chief Minister said recovery drive of the housing loans given to the employees through PDA under the phase-14 has already been started while some others already retruned their loan amount.

The Govt would look into as to why the recovery of the bank loan from the beneficiaries is not being done on instalment basis, the Chief Minister said, while admitting that frequent transfer of employees and change of DDOs have caused some difficulties in recovering the loan amount.

In response to another question asked by CPI MLA Dr H Borajao, the Chief Minister informed the House that Angom Brajamani of Phayeng Makha Leikai who was shot dead by Imphal West Police Commandos on Nov 18 last at Khoyathong was a PREPAK activist.

In accordance with the report of the Home Department, he was killed in the retaliatory firing.

Instead of stopping when the police asked him to do so, he opened fired at the security personnel, the CM claimed.

One 38 point pistol and three live rounds of ammunition were recovered from his possession, the Chief Minister said, adding that Brajamani was a PREPAK activist who had undergone military training at Satong village, Myanmar.

Comment