IMPHAL | Dec 13 : Horticulture and Soil Conservation minister, Thounaojam Shyamkumar today gave assurance that he will conduct on the spot inquiry regarding the matter of false allegation on Horticulture department and take stern action against the individual(s) for defaming the department.
Speaking to media persons at his New Secretariat office, the minister said that beneficiaries under Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) get their scheme amounts through respective bank accounts under Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system. He continued that the primary aim of DBT is to bring transparency and terminate pilferage from distribution of funds sponsored by the centre. Clarifying regarding the allegation published in a local daily that some amounts were deducted for payment to the department officials, Shyamkumar said that MIDH scheme is for the previous financial year. He further questioned the timing of the allegation made by the beneficiary.
He instructed the said ‘beneficiary’ to send application to his office along with the evidences like documents, cheque number, name of the bank and the amount. He also welcomed other beneficiaries having similar complaints to send application to his office along with evidences.
The minister also cautioned that any false allegations against the department will attract legal action and similar action may be taken against the department officials if found guilty.
Shyamkumar said that the department under the leadership of chief minister is working hard for the welfare of the farmers of the state. If any person(s) is found trying to defame the department without concrete evidences then stern action will be taken up according to law of the land, he added.
It may be mentioned that a report on local daily published on December 12 stated that a strong suspicion has been raised about deduction of a sum of Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 each from a total number of 3,125 beneficiaries listed under the MIDH 2015-16 schemes for payment to officials. The scheme was implemented in 2016-17 under the Manipur Horticulture Development Society and a sum of Rs 13 crore inclusive of the state’s matching share was sanctioned in March this year.
Source: Imphal Free Press
