Imphal, October 08: The Rishang Keishing Foundation for Management of Tribal Areas (MATA) and Watershed Farmers Agriculture and Marketing Cooperative Society (FARM-COS) have come under serious charges of misappropriation of funds.

Sources said though the Rishang Keishing Foundation for Management of Tribal Areas (MATA) and Watershed Farmers' Agriculture and Marketing Cooperative Society (FARMCOS) were entrusted to take up various development schemes in 30 villages in Phungyar constituency of Ukhrul district the work was executed sans quality while on the other hand a total of Rs 976.15 lakhs for the same had been withdrawn.

On the other hand, the villagers who cultivated horticultural products on the assurance that their produces will be purchased by MATA have been left high and dry as MATA has failed to take up any initiatives to market their produces as against the assurance.

The woes of the farmers are further compounded by the extremely bad or absence of transport infrastructure.

In fact, the horticultural produces from in these villages rots away before they could be transported to the markets.

Consequent upon complaints submitted to the relevant authorities including the Chief Secretary about the swindling of huge amount of money without executing necessary works properly, the State Vigilance Commission has registered a case and has initiated a probe.

In the name of executing various development schemes in 30 villages of Phungyar A/C sanctioned by the Ministry of Rural Development, MATA withdrew Rs 976.15 lakhs between March 15, 1999 and March 20, 2007 in nine phases.

It is reported that MATA and FARMCOS based at Mantripukhri, Imphal sent a written report to the relevant Ministry seeking for further fund release.

According to the report, the two implementing agencies claimed that under the Integrated Wetland Development Project, plantation works have been completed on 8060 hectares of land in Ukhrul district out of which 2169 hectares have been planted with horticultural plants, 1428 hectares used for forestation while the remaining areas have been utilised for various development schemes.

During a three day inspection tour, a team of reporters went to the Phungyar villages to inspect 10 schemes implemented by FARMCOS.

While talking with village headmen and representatives of village authorities of about 20 villages, the media team learnt that all the schemes were executed just for namesake.

The reporters visited Sikiphung, Leingangching, Lungphu, Marou, Shingta, Thawai, Riha, Lamlai Khullen, Lamlai Khunou, Chadong, Louphong, Thangjingpokpi, Nongdam, New Canan, Wunghon, Muirei, Ngarumphung, S Loushing Tangoi and Sopleng village.

At some villages where MATA claimed to have executed various development schemes, there was no sign of any development scheme.

The village leaders said that they were unaware of any agency called MATA.

In some other villages, farmers levelled hill slopes with great effort and cultivated passion fruit, banana plants, coffee and ginger on the advice and assurance of MATA that it will buy their produces.

MATA also provided saplings and of these horticultural plants to the farmers.

But the unwitting farmers' months of hard labour has gone in vain as MATA failed to buy their produces.

Even as the victimised farmers wish to market their product themselves, absence or dismal condition of roads has belied any chance to transport their products to some prospective markets.

The media team observed tons of ginger laying in waste in the villages.

The villagers conveyed strong resentment against MATA as hundreds of banana bunches also lay rotten.

Even as some farms ponds were constructed, all of them have been totally demolished by heavy rainfall and flood a month back as the construction works were not only left incomplete but also executed without any thought for quality.

In some villages, the implementing agencies made the villagers to excavate ponds on the promise that they would be paid Rs 30,000.But the agencies duped the villagers again by giving them only Rs 5000.Infuriated by their bitter experiences, the villagers told the reporters that they do not have an iota of faith in MATA and its works.

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