IMPHAL, January 8: Only white collar jobs should not be considered as employment, and there is need to respect hard work and employing of innovative ideas for monetary independence, said minister of commerce and industry Govindas Konthoujam.
He was speaking at the valedictory function of a 10-day workshop-cum-training programme on “Innovative Designs of Personal Jewellery and Ornaments for Women Derived from Sericulture Products of Manipur” at Khurai Chingangbam Leikai. He said that without work culture in the society or innovativeness, the fight for the livelihood will be comparable to primitive tribals.
He added that now the people of Manipur are applying loans for PMEGP scheme but when asked for repayment no one is forthcoming.
If such trends continue, the banks will have to bear huge losses due to wrong perception of the defaulters. The banks are wary that new loans or schemes may become a non performing account (NPA) and affect those persons in genuine needs for loans, he stated.
He also cited that Manipuris are lagging behind when it comes to work culture.
The minister lauded the Chingkhei Mangal Handloom and Handicraft Co-operation Society Manipur for exhibiting innovative ideas and said though the initial amount to be paid for training by the society was Rs 30,000 the actual payment will be doubled and the workshop will be extended by three more days.
He added that the department concerned can provide infrastructural assistance to the tune of Rs 2 lakh for self employment generation and economy development. He said now the trends of failure of payment of loan is so widespread in the state and the neighboring state of Nagaland that nationalised banks do not want to invest in these two states.
Dr Ng Bijoy, MLA Khurai, said that political freedom cannot be gained without economic freedom.