THOUBAL, May 31: A mass rally was organised today against Thoubal Municipal Council Ward No 14 Councilor, Y. Umakanta for using the Housing scheme, Low Cost Latrine scheme fund for his own private convenience.
The joint rally of Kiyam, Kiyam SIphai, Kiyam Leitanpok Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Association took the rally around the surrounding areas of Ward No 14. The protestors carried banners with slogans demanding the councilor to return the money for the scheme and not to hinder works taken up for development.
Speaking on the rally, Union Secretary, L. Pramo has said that Councilor, Y. Umakanta collected Rs. 30,000/- form poor families of Ward no. 14 with the believe of providing Housing loan in 2011. During all those time, Due to the councilor`™s excuse or the other all those time, the people finally went to the concerned department to inquire on the matter. However, upon reaching there, it was found that no such housing scheme was found, said the secretary.
He further said that on approaching the councilor and demanding to return the money of the people, the councilor only returned a small amount for some people. Such act by the councilor is an insult to the people, stated the secretary.
The secretary further said that, the councilor had also made fake signature of APR of 50 beneficiaries of the Low Cost Sanitary Latrine Scheme and had secretly withdrawn their money. The information was found only when an RTI was submitted, he said.
On the other hand, the councilor has been keeping the Aadhar cards of the people and has been giving the cards only to selected people of his choice. The secretary further said that, a few staff members of the Post Office might also be suspected to be the crime. He stated that the councilor will be held responsible for those whose Aadhar card is missing.
On top of this, the councilor has also started to cut down the AAY/BPL cards. Reports of collecting Rs. 60,000 to Rs. 70,000 by the councilor with the promise of providing a place at the market to the Imas came to the Union also. The Imas had also complained that till now they have not been allocated a place in the market. The secretary has appealed to the concerned authority to take up action against the councilor and to provide the benefits of the people.