By A Staff Reporter
Imphal, June 21: The Regional Directorate of the Central Board for Workers Education under the Ministry of Labour and Employment which has been in the state for 23 years might be shifted out of Manipur due to the negligence of the state Revenue Department.
According to a source, the regional director has requested the State government for allotment of land for setting up its office in Imphal since 1991 but the land has not been provided so far despite several requests to the concerned authorities.
The Regional Directorate at Palace Compound, Imphal covers the States of Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura, Mizoram and three districts of Assam in the Barak Valley namely Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi to serve these states in imparting soft and skill development training programmes for workers in the organised and unorganised sectors, and the rural sector.
The Directorate requested the state government for land to set up its office in Imphal which has been functioning from a small rented private building at Palace Compund near Old Sana Office, Imphal. The situation of the office is now landlord has served notice to vacating the building.
The head office of the Central Board for Workers Education has directed the regional directorate to search for a new site within its jurisdiction to set up office for the smooth functioning of the directorate. In such circumstances, Regional Director MN Salam has drawn the attention of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi and requested him to allocate a suitable plot for the construction of its office building and quarters measuring approximately around 0.50 acre in the Imphal Municipality area. As an alternative, he also asked for a 3000 square feet floor area for the temporary office accommodation preferably in the new Directorate complex at 2nd MR Gate North AOC, Imphal till it’s shifted to a permanent location.
Meanwhile, additional secretary of the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment, AK Sinha has also pointed out in a February 17 meeting at New Delhi that since the inception of CBWE most of the regional offices are functioning from rented buildings, suggesting that if the Regional Directorates take initiatives and send proposals for getting government building or land from state or central government through the CBWE Head Office, the Ministry will extend all possible support for their earliest efforts.
The state Joint Secretary (works) has rejected the proposal of Regional Directorate by stating that there is no suitable plot to accommodate the proposed office of Regional Directorate of Works’ Education on February 13 1991.