IMPHAL: July 16: Manipur Maoist has called a general strike on July 24 against alleged embezzlement of crores by Agriculture department, Government of Manipur. In a statement made available to the media signed by its secretary publicity and propaganda, Nonglen Meitei has stated that it will be a 12 hours strike starting from 5 in the morning.
The statement has alleged that in these few years the Agriculture department has embezzled huge amount of money that comes through various schemes such as Rastriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, (RKVY), Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA), System of Rice Intensification (SRI) etc.
It said RKVY was instituted for the welfare of the farmers in agricultural and its allied sectors. The allied sector includes Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Fishery, Dairy Development, Forestry and Wild Life, and agricultural research and training etc. The statement has alleged that the total amounts of fund that have been embezzled are more than 200 Crore, distributed among a handful of bureaucrats and ministers by table work manipulation.
The outfit has further maintained that the finding is just the tip of the ice berg. It said embezzlement has been going on in the said department for a long time. This was evident when a former Director of the department gave kilograms of gold as dowry gift on his daughter’s wedding, according to the statement.
The outfit has appealed to the people for their support to the general strike. The strike has been called in the general interest of the people of Manipur and more particularly for the toiling agricultural workers whose rights have been violated. If the authority concern fails to look into the matter, the outfit will take serious note of it, added the statement.
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