Biren distributes Rs 5000 to 1500 labour class families under Special Scheme

way2barak, Oct 27 :  Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh has assured to aid Manipur crisis affected people stating the his government has been putting all possible efforts for the same.

In continuation of distribution of benefits under Special Scheme for Education of Children at Relief Camps for Labour Card Holders, a distribution programme was held on Friday at the chief minister’s secretariat, here.

Biren handed over reconstructed labour cards and financial assistance of Rs. 5,000 under the scheme to the 1500 labour card holders staying in different relief camps.

Many people had been facing hardship due to the present conflict in the state. “The present conflict is like a wake-up call for the people of Manipur,” he said.

Many displaced people whose houses had not been burnt down, but fled their homes out of fear in the early days of the conflict, have now returned to their original places of settlement. Experts from departments like Agriculture, Horticulture, Industries and others have been made to interact and assist the displaced people, so that the latter could take up suitable activities for earning their livelihood, he added.

The government would start providing blankets to relief camps very soon, as winter season is arriving. Around 2,500 personnel of security forces had been provided for safeguarding farmers while taking up agricultural activities. Compensation would be provided to those farmers, whose agricultural land could not be cultivated due to the present conflict. The Home ministry has sanctioned an amount of Rs 38.6 crore for the same, he added.

Biren said concerned deputy commissioners would do the survey on whose agricultural farms had not been cultivated and what would be their earning from the agricultural land if cultivated.

He informed that 98 percent of students staying at relief camps set up at valley areas had been admitted to nearest schools. However, it is less for students staying at relief camps set up at Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Tengnoupal districts.

Mentioning that around 3,000 families had been relocated from relief camps to newly constructed prefabricated houses, he informed that the central government would provide financial assistance for construction of new houses, for those whose houses had been burnt down. The financial assistance would be given in two to three installments through concerned Deputy Commissioners, the chief minister said, adding that the government had started taking up the process for the same.

Ministers, MLAs, chairman of Manipur Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board, chief secretary, government officials and labour card holders staying at different relief camps also attended the programme among others.