Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Tuesday handed over monetary assistance of Rs.7,500 each to 7,500 organic farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) under Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North East Region (MOVCDNER) and old age pension cards under Manipur Old Age Pension Scheme (MOAP) to 20,833 pensioners enrolled through the Go to Village mission.
Speaking at the occasion as the chief guest, N Biren Singh said that there might be many critics of the Go to Village mission but genuine needy people could not have been identified if it was not held. It had also enabled the Government to understand the people’s requirements, wishes and the key areas where developmental activities should be taken up, he observed.
No matter there is need for developing infrastructures but more important is giving support to the people to live a dignified life, the chief minister opined and stated that there would be no use of broad and smooth roads and high buildings if majority of the people are starving and infested by ill health. As such, the present state government has been concentrating more on lifting the living standard of the people, the chief minister said.
Urging the people to give strength to the government in this regard, the chief minister said that they would keep on working hard to give employment, build houses for the homeless and ensure subsidized healthcare and foodstuff. He said that the government has started planning to make the state self-sufficient in production of some selected items like rice, onion, pulses, fish, mustard oil, poultry, livestock etc.
A total of Rs.5.625 crore is directly transferred to 7500 registered farmers of different districts at Rs.7,500 per farmer every year under Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North East Region (MOVCDNER). In the Go to Village mission launched on May 1, 2018, 25,312 persons submitted applications for availing benefit under Manipur Old Age Pension Scheme (MOAP). Of this, 20,833 genuine applicants were selected for providing pension.
Benefits of 12 months (March 2019 to February 2020) at the rate of Rs. 200 per month had already been transferred to the bank accounts of these 20,833 beneficiaries through DBT using the Public Financial Management System.
CAF and PD Minister Karam Shyam, Water Resources Minister Letpao Haokip, TA and Hills Minister N Kayisii, Education Minister Th Radheshyam, Forest and Environment Minister Awangbow Newmai, MLAs and high ranking officials of the state government also took part in the function jointly organized by the Horticulture and Soil Conservation Department and Social Welfare Department.
