Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 18:
Furious over the failure of distributing the benefits entitled to them, selected beneficiaries of the Economic Development Programme being implemented under the Minorities and Other Backward Classes (MOBC) Department today protested at the gate of the Chief Minister's Bungalow here.
On receiving the information that the benefits of the programme, either in cash and kind, would be distributed, a large number of selected beneficiaries of the scheme gathered at the Babupara official quarters of the MOBC Minister Md Allaudiin Khan since early morning.
As there was no sign of distributing the said benefits even after waiting for a long time, the aggrieved beneficiaries march toward the Chief Minister's bungalow to lodge their complaint in this regard.
According to the selected beneficiaries, when they arrived at the official quarters of the Minister, first of all, they were informed by one of the assistants of the Minister that the distribution of the benefits would commence from 9 am today.
After some time, another person came out from the Minister's quarters to announce that function would begin at 10.30 am.
But after waiting for such a long time, they were finally informed that no distribution function would take place as none of the officials concerned have arrived and nothing could be said when it would be held, thus infuriating the tired selected beneficiaries.
They further informed that under the Economic Development Programme of the MOBC, trades like tailoring, handloom, poultry, veterinary farming, carpentry, etc are included and the majority of the beneficiaries for the period 2005-06 and 2006-07 have been already given their respective benefits with exception to few others.
Only after the disgruntled beneficiaries launched their protest at the gate of the Chief Minister's bungalow, distribution of the benefits either in cash or kind was hurriedly organised at the Minister's quarters later in the afternoon.
When questioned why the distribution function was held at the Minister's quarters and not at the office of the MOBC, Allauddin said after the office of the MOBC located at Governor Road had been shut down by an underground organisation and the officials have been threaten against distributing the said benefits, he has taken up the risk personally in distributing the same.
Beneficiaries who come after April 21 to claim their benefits would not be entertained and their names would be struck off from the list, the Minister informed.
Out of the total 5000 beneficiaries, around 1200 of them are yet to be provided with their entitlements, the Minister added.