Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 29 2010:
The Manipur Pineapple Festival Committee has been peeved and saddened by the alleged step-motherly attitude of the officials of Horticulture and Soil Conservation Dept in failing to participate at the 3rd State Level Manipur Pineapple Festival which was held at Dr APJ Abdul Kalam ground, Bunglon High School campus, Churachandpur on August 27 and 28 .
The committee was deeply hurt as not a single official of the Horticulture and Soil Conservation Department participated in the festival even though information and invitation was given well in time, said a press release issued by the committee.
The absence of officials left the enthusiastic farmers high and dry as the Manipur Pineapple Show contest could not be held in the absence of experts from the department, thereby making the whole exercise of organising the festival a mockery.
The same thing happened last year too.
The failure of the officials in not participating at the festival was nothing but negligence of duty and step-motherly treatment of the poor and needy farmers of Manipur, the committee decried.