IT News
Imphal, Dec 5:
The Federation of All Tribal Youth Clubs, Manipur, and Tangkhul Aze Katamnao Long (TAKL), the Southern Tangkhul Students’ Union, have submitted memorandums to the Chief Minister of Manipur, demanding the immediate discontinuation of the service tenure of Mr. L. Rajendro Singh, the Joint Director-Cum-Drawing and Disbursement Officer (DDO) in the Tribal Affairs & Hills Department. The groups urged that his service tenure not be extended beyond November 30, 2024, citing concerns over his alleged involvement in massive corruption and a lack of transparency within the department.
In their memorandum, the tribal civil society organizations (CSOs) accused Rajendro of gross mismanagement, particularly regarding the issuance of Utilization Certificates (UCs) for several programs, including those related to agriculture, horticulture, and animal husbandry. These programs, they claimed, had been plagued by financial irregularities and fund mismanagement, preventing the department from fulfilling its responsibilities to the tribal communities.
The CSOs further noted that they had learned Rajendro, who was due to retire on November 30, 2024, had reportedly made efforts to prolong his tenure well beyond his stipulated retirement date. This situation, they said, had raised concerns among the tribal leaders of the state, who were alarmed at the possibility of his continued stay in office despite his impending retirement.
A major point of contention was Rajendro’s failure to sanction and disburse the Post-Matric Scholarships meant for tribal students for the academic year 2023-2024. Additionally, various welfare and anti-poverty schemes intended for the tribal community, including rural housing, piggery, poultry, and agricultural programs, had reportedly not been implemented on the ground since 2020. The tribal organizations claimed that a lack of transparency had hindered the release of the list of deserving beneficiaries.
The memorandum also pointed to systemic issues within the Tribal Affairs & Hills Department, blaming financial irregularities for the department’s inability to send necessary UCs to the concerned ministries. The CSOs demanded that those responsible, including Singh, be held accountable under the law for failing to serve the tribal communities effectively.
Referencing an Office Memorandum dated July 26, 1982, from the Vigilance Department of the Government of Manipur, the organizations pointed out that officials like Singh, who were due for retirement within six months, should have been relieved of their duties. They called for immediate action to enforce this rule and requested the Chief Minister to relieve Rajendro Singh from his post and ensure that he retires from his current position.
The organizations insisted that all pending schemes and scholarships, including those for the years 2023-2024, be disbursed by December 2024. Failure to do so, they warned, could lead to widespread agitation. The groups concluded by expressing their hope that the Chief Minister would act swiftly for the welfare of the tribal community, and that their grievances would be addressed in a timely manner.
