IT News
Imphal, Jan 27:
The 36 hours total shutdown called by the Panchayat bodies over failure to release pending funds has severely affected normalcy in almost all Panchayat areas of the state. Shops were closed and vehicles movement was blocked by burning tires on the roads.
A large number of people led by Panchayat bodies leaders today came out in the street and stopped all vehicular movement and were forced to shut down all commercial activities in their respective areas.
At Ethai, locals said that bandh supporters stopped all vehicular movements except those for emergency purposes. The Total shutdown begins from 6 am today and will end at 6 pm tomorrow.
Manipur State Panchayat Parishad president Abdul Latif contended that the state government has been undermining the importance of local self-government. He pointed out that local bodies and people in rural areas are made to suffer as the government ceased funds sanctioned for the development of villages for more than seven-eight months.
In view of it, a meeting of representatives of 161 Gram Panchayats and 60 Zilla Parishads that was held at SIRD hall, Imphal East, DC complex, on January 20 had adopted several resolutions.
At Jiribam district too, the total shutdown has crippled normal life. The report said that agitators block NH-37. The bandh was called by Manipur Panchayat Parishad over non-release of MGNREGS for 2020-21 and 2021-22.
During today’s bandh, forJiribam District, the Job Cardholders of MGNREGS came out to the NH-37 and block the road in support of bandh called by panchayat Parishad. All the vehicles including loaded trucks proceedings towards Silchar to Imphal and vis-versa were off from the road. Whereas, the essential services including medical services which were exempted from the bandh seen plying on the route.
The District police of Jiribam took all the precautionary measures in the panchayat areas of Jiribam so as not to occur any untoward incident.
Speaking with the media person, Ward Member of Hilghat Gram Panchayat N. Suchrita said that all the Job Cardholders of Jiribam came out to the road in support of bandh called by Manipur State Panchayat Parishad for not releasing the fund of MGNREGA which was already sanctioned by the Central Government. She appealed to the State Government to release the funds as earliest in the interest of the public. She also cautions that if the funds do not release then the agitation will lead in a more stringent way.
