Imphal, October 02: Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh has stated that Manipur can develop only when the people cultivate the habit of repaying the loan amount taken and clearing their due taxes on time.

Speaking as chief guest at the disbursement function of loan/assets for first phase of the Special Employment Generation Programme (SEGP), 2004-05 at Kangla here today, Ibobi said that the culture of not paying back loans and clearing taxes is widely prevalent in Manipur.

Only when the people do away with this habit, can Manipur move ahead in the path of development, he said.

The Chief Minister wondered why the people do not pay their taxes even for consuming electricity.

The Chief Minister pointed out that the number of educated unemployed youths in Manipur has crossed the 4.4 lakh mark by 2004 following the MoU signed between the Government of Manipur and the Centre in 1995 putting a ban on Government recruitment.

Unemployment not only causes unrest among youths, but it could lead them to stray from the right direction, the Chief Minister noted while adding that the scheme of the SEGP was announced by the Prime Minister during his visit to Manipur on November 20 last year to solve the unemployment problem.

Out of the total earmarked amount of Rs 150 crores, Rs 30 crores would be used for implementation of scheme in the first phase (2004-05), Rs 70 crores in the second phase (2005-06) and the remaining Rs 50 crores in the last phase (2006-07), he elaborated.

The loan and assets being disbursed to the 2488 beneficiaries today is for the first phase of the programme, the Chief Minister added.

The beneficiaries should not think that the loan/ assets are being given to them free.

Instead they should work hard to repay the loan amount in time.

Only then the programme can be successful and Manipur move ahead on the path of development, he reiterated.

The Chief Minister presented the assets/loan amount to 64 beneficiaries at the occasion and the sanctioned letters for the beneficiaries of other districts were handed over to the respective Deputy Commissioners.

The assets/loan presented to the 64 beneficiaries include Autorickshaw (transport)-2, Auto-rickshaw (passenger) 13, Power Tiler (Agro) -2, Power Tillers-31, Maruti Van-6, Tata 407-4, Tractor-5, Tractor (Agro)-1.

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