Manipur Chief Minister N Biren on Monday exhorted the drug traffickers or peddlers to get the benefits of ‘Start Up Manipur’ scheme as their source of livelihood instead of continuing the illegal drug business in the state.
Addressing the function as chief guest in the Start Up Conclave 2021 held at City Convention Centre, Palace Compound, Imphal East, Biren said that the Start Up scheme launched in 2017 is playing a significant role in generating employment in the state. As such, social unrest that existed at one point of time has been reduced drastically.
He said that since the launch of this scheme, Rs 114 crore has been sanctioned with a subsidy of Rs 76 crore. Out of this total subsidy amount, Rs 56 crore has been released.
For 2021, 40 beneficiaries were selected in the Idea Stage-Innovative category and 4,500 beneficiaries under Idea Stage as a special COVID pandemic economic support to the existing small business or traders. Sanction order and release order were distributed to the said selected beneficiaries of the scheme, he informed.
He continued that 72 beneficiaries were also shortlisted under revenue stage and 46 beneficiaries under stand up of the scheme. However, the transaction of money from the bank is yet to undergo.
Encouraging people to get the benefit of the Start Up scheme, the CM said that less people from hill areas and Muslim community hardly apply for this scheme. The scheme can be applied anytime and anywhere through online. The scheme is an opportunity for everyone to make the entire society develop equally.
The aim of the government is to provide jobs and better sources of income to the unemployed people, especially the youths of the state under the scheme. The vision of promoting a self-reliant state would surely be achieved as beside this scheme, infrastructure of the industrial units are also being developed, he mentioned.
Biren also highlighted that under the Jal Jeevan Mission, so far 53 per cent of the households have been provided with drinking water. Before the upcoming election, the state can cover up to 80 per cent of the total households in the state.
The programme was attended by deputy chief minister as functional president. It was also attended by many cabinet ministers, MLAs and high ranking government officials.
It may be mentioned that under Idea Stage (COVID-19 Economic Package) Rs 1 lakh each with Rs 30,000 subsidy will be provided. The amount may increase to Rs 3 lakh according to the performance of the beneficiary. On the other hand, under the Idea Stage-Innovative category, Rs 3 lakh each will be provided to 40 selected beneficiaries.
