Imphal, January 28: The chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh today launched 'Urban Credit Card' and 'Imoinu Saving Scheme' specially aimed at augmenting commercial viability and economic sustenance of women vendors.

The launch of the innovative schemes introduced for the first time in the State was held with the Chief Minister as the chief guest, Co-operation Minister W Leima Devi as functional president and PDA Chairman K Ranjit as the guest of honour at GM Hall.

The schemes are being launched with financial assistance of Imphal Urban Cooperative Bank.

Delivering the key-note address, President of the banking institute Kh Gou-rakishore announced that Urban Credit card scheme would cover women vendors conducting businesses in semi-urban and nagar panchayat areas in a phased manner.

Under the Imoinu Saving Scheme facilities to be extended by the Bank include easy accessibility regarding financial transaction to women vendors in municipal areas, he said and explained that bank accounts could be opened with minimal amount while a single account holder could withdraw upto Rs 50,000 at a time.

The Chief Minister formally handed over sanction letters of the Urban Credit Card scheme amounting to Rs 13,15,000 to 118 women vendors provided slots at Purana Market; Rs 16,70,000 to 115 women vendors of Luxmi Bazar; and another amount of Rs 14,25,000 to 97 females conducting businesses at New Market.

These women are currently provided slots at the temporary market sheds established at the erstwhile Old District Hospital.

Capitalising on the occasion O Ibobi asked those societies who had procured loans from National Cooperative Development Council with State Govt as the guarantor to repay the loan amount which had crossed the Rs 400 crore mark.

He called upon the loanees to cultivate habit of repaying so that Cooperation Department - through whom the loans were provided - could continue to serve the needy especially women vendors in their struggle for livelihood.

Conveying that Central Government is willing to bail the State out of the financial mess by waving 50 percent of the total amount indebted to the National Cooperative Development Council, the Chief Minister however expressed strong resentment that conduct of some societies are found to be far from satisfactory as the loan money had been diverted to sustain family businesses instead of developing projects that could be helpful to the society's most needy.

With loanees under ICDS in Churachandpur, Thoubal and Bishnupur districts failing to repay over Rs 10 crore owed to the National Council some amount had to be adjusted from those earmarked for loanees of Ukhrul, Imphal East and West districts, he informed.

Maintaining that mobility and constant transaction are the hall mark of financial institutions' functioning the Chief Minister reiterated appeal to repay the loaned amount so that money could be utilised in a wise and productive manner.

Joining the repay-loan chorus, PDA Chairman K Ranjit said failure to positively reciprocate to the fervent appeals would be a factor in degradation of the society economically whereas imbibing a culture of clearing debt would certainly lead to prosperity and rapid advancement of the Manipuri society.

Speaking as the functional president W Leima conveyed of the National Cooperative Development Council proposing to State's Finance department to work out a mechanism towards maintenance of financial control/discipline.

She drew the attention of the Chief Minister in ensuring that the Council's proposal are implemented.

Prior to commencement of the programme a two minute silence was observed as mark of respect to the departed soul of former Chief Minister RK Ranabir Singh, who passed away yesterday.

When President of Imphal Urban Cooperative Bank Kh Gourakishore was approached for comments on the scheme launch, he informed of the Bank targeting extension of the facilities to 10,000 women vendors mostly operating in municipal areas by 2007.The total amount earmarked for the scheme is Rs 13 crore, he added.

Gourakishore also disclosed that resources were mobilised from Self Help Groups, Kisan Credit Card and General Credit card schemes and 300 women vendors without any guarantor were covered by today's programme.

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