Special Correspondent
Ukhrul, Jan 28:
The All Hunphun Tang Association (AHTA), representing 28 localities in Ukhrul Town, has issued a six-day ultimatum to the concerned authorities to disburse the Material Component (MC) fund of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS) for the fiscal years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025. The fund has been delayed for two consecutive years, causing widespread distress in the district. The AHTA has warned of severe agitation if the funds are not released within the given timeframe.
During a press conference held at Phungreitang, Ukhrul, AHTA President Eno. Chonmi Raleng expressed strong dissatisfaction with the unreasonable delay in releasing the MNREGS MC funds. He revealed that repeated attempts to resolve the matter with the concerned authorities have been met with excuses and mismanagement. According to Raleng, the Ukhrul SDO, Dingaingam Gangmei, initially claimed that the delay was due to the non-submission of estimates by Section Officers (SOs). However, when the SOs were contacted, they clarified that the estimates had already been submitted.
Raleng further alleged that the SDO later admitted that the funds allocated for Ukhrul, amounting to ¹ 1 crore, had been wrongly diverted to Churachandpur. Terming the justification as “illogical and insulting,” he demanded an explanation for how funds meant for Ukhrul could be misallocated. “This is a blatant insult to Ukhrul,” Raleng said, warning that the SDO would be held solely responsible for any unrest resulting from the delay.
Echoing similar sentiments, AHTA Action Committee Convenor Eno. Alungpam Ruivah criticized the persistent neglect of Ukhrul’s MC fund. Ruivah stated that while funds for other districts and blocks have been released, Ukhrul continues to face discrimination. He emphasized that the people’s patience has been exhausted, especially given the volatile situation in Manipur. “If you think our silence is weakness, you are inviting trouble. We will no longer tolerate this double standard and insult,” Ruivah warned.
The AHTA has made it clear that failure to release the funds within six days will result in strong agitation, holding the authorities accountable for the consequences.