CM talks tough against fund misuse
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 18 2011: Issuing a stern warning, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh has stated the Govt has devolved necessary power including administrative and financial power to local bodies at the grassroots level like Autonomous District Council, Zilla Parishad and Gram Panchayats.

However, if the fund were misused or the utilisation certificates were not submitted in time, the power would be withdrawn.

Addressing a one-day district level flagship training programme organised by Sawombung Block Congress Committee at Ima Laikhurembi at Khurai today, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh warned that there would be no option but to withdraw the power and handed over to the DCs again if the fund for developmental works were found misused or the utilisation certificates were not submitted in time.

The very purpose of devolving the power would be defeated if the fund were to be misused.

So, the people and more particularly the Congress workers should remain alert and see whether the local bodies have been utilising the fund properly and the benefit reaching out to the people, the Chief Minister said.

Speaking on the UPA Government's flagship programmes of SSA and ICDS, the Chief Minister disclosed that screening process for recruitment of 1300 Primary teachers and 500 Graduate teachers on regular post with the main objective of educating every individual in the society has already been started.

As there is no hard and fast rule that written test should always be conducted, the recruitment would be on the basis of the academic performance and the marks obtained by the candidates to ensure transparency.

So, the candidates should not go around lobbying.

Under the provision of Rights to Education Act, the Govt has also given instruction to all the schools including private schools to refrain from conducting written test for admission, the Chief Minister added.

With regard to health care, the Chief Minister informed that the Govt has taken a decision to set up a 100-bedded hospital for Imphal East district as the JN Hospital has been upgraded to the level of a medical college.Required fund has been earmarked in the Budget.

The Chief Minister assured that there would be surged in the economic activi ties of the people in Imphal East district once the Dolaithabi Barrage project is completed and supply of adequate drinking water would be able to ensure in Greater Imphal area of Imphal East and Imphal West after completion of Maphou Dam, which is being targeted to be commissioned within the current year.

The flagship programmes that the UPA Govt at the Centre have initiated are meant for extending the benefit directly to the BPL families in rural areas.

So, there is the need on the part of the people to understand these programmes and monitor their implementation closely, the Chief Minister observed.

Asserting that there is no other political parties other than the Congress which is committed to the development whether it be of India or Manipur, the Chief Minister appealed to the people for supporting the Congress party in the next General elections so that it can get at least 35/36 seats out of the total 60 seats in the Assembly for installation of a stable Government of the Congress alone.

MPCC president Gaikhangam, MP Dr Th Meinya and other party leaders also addressed the conference.

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