IMPHAL, December 3: Chiefs and chairmen of villages under Tengnoupal Block of Chandel district staged a protest rally at Tengnoupal sub-divisional headquarters today.
The rally, organized under the banner of Village Chief & Chairman Association Tengnoupal Block, was in protest against their objections to the implementation of MGNREGS and the delayed wages to job card holders by the State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD) Manipur.
Around 100 village chiefs/chairmen and secretaries holding placards and chanting slogans against the implementation of MGNREGS by SIRD and demanding immediate release of wages to job card holders proceeded to the office of SDO Tengnoupal where a memorandum addressed to Governor of Manipur was handed over through SDO Tengnoupal.
While briefing the media persons, SK Angshel Lamkang, Secretary Village Chiefs and Chairman Association Tengnoupal Block said that ‘we strongly condemn and oppose the implementation of MGNREGS by SIRD as it is central government sponsored scheme and it is against the guidelines of MGNREGS. So, the said scheme should be implemented directly through DRDA as it was before.’
Holkhokhai Haokip who is the Chairman of the association said that as the current financial is nearing an end, SIRD does not even release 50% work days wages of job card holders for the current year. So, the concern authories should release 50 days wages on or before the forth coming Christmas.
He further warned that if the concern authorities fail to fulfil their demands, the association will be compelled to launch intense agitations including bandh on national highways.
It may be worth mentioning that the association boycotted a five-day training programmes on MGNREGS organised by SIRD.