Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, June 26 2009:
The Movement for Tribal People's Rights, Manipur (MTPRM) has urged the state Chief Minister to facilitate the release of the Central's Multi-Sectoral Development Plan Fund to the DRDA for taking up various prioritised and approved schemes during the financial year, 2008-09 .
An MTPRM release issued by its general secretary, Th Kipgen stated that the Government of India had released the MSDP fund in December last year for taking up various developmental works for the backward and minority group and pointed out that the fund has been not released by the state government yet.
It alleged that refusal to concede to the insistence of percentage cut by the concerned Ministers, including the RD & PR Minister has hindered the timely release of the fund.
While alleging the Directorate of MOBC as trying to implement the fund in total violation of the guidelines of the Government of India, the MTPRM statement cautions that the matter will be intimated to the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs if not the attempt of the MOBC to hijack the fund is not prevented.
Contending that the funds meant for tribal development have been diverted on several occasions, it stated such practice is not acceptable at all costs.
The MTPRM appeals the state government to release the MSDP fund immediately to the DRDA and implement the same.