S Neken urges

By Our Staff Reporter
Imphal, May 10 : The Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has urged the State Government to transfer the  MGNREGS funds released by the Centre to the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and job cardholders at the earliest possible.
Briefing journalists at Congress Bhavan, today, member of MPCC, Seram Neken cautioned that MPCC and PRI members will launch intense agitation if the demand is not entertained.
He further claimed that MGNREGA funds amounting to over Rs 485 crore was already sanctioned for the State on March 18 last, however, the same is not yet transferred to the PRIs and job cardholders.
Such withholding of the funds is aggravating the suffering of working-class people, especially those from the rural areas during this pandemic, he said.
Alleging that job cardholders work for 60 days under MGNREGA in the financial year 2020-21, he added that wages for only 25 man-days are cleared to date.  
According to the guideline of MGNREGA, the funds released by the Centre should be handed to the implementing agency within 3 days from the date of receipt, he charged.
Meanwhile, RD & PR Minister Th Biswajit asked why Zilla Parishad Member Seram Neken is opposing giving priority to the job card holders for the Rs 83.6 crore MGNREGS fund released by the Government.
The Minister also asked why Neken didn't disributed wages to job cardholders in his Zilla Parishad.