Welfare schemes have not reached poor: Manipur CM

Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh has said that various welfare schemes undertaken by the government have not reached the poor.

He directed the District Collectors of 16 districts to attend a meeting in his office convened here on Wednesday to review the mode of selection of beneficiaries.

"From talking to a cross-section of people, it is clear that some rich and influential sections have usurped the share of the needy people," he told IANS on Tuesday.

The Chief Minister, who met some physically challenged persons last month during the "people's day" public meeting, learnt that some of them are professionals in repairing mobile handsets.

"If the government and the banks extend assistance to them, they can earn a comfortable income to support their families."

Singh has been meeting all sections of people twice a month to hear their grievances.

"We shall continue to interact with the people since the government then can feel the pulses," he said.

Admitting that most of the issues could have been addressed by the District Collectors, Singh said: "People come to me requesting money for the construction of houses, for sending their children to schools. It is clear that the welfare scheme funds have gone haywire and a proper review is needed."

The aggrieved persons, however, say that they have not got much relief despite instructions to the district authorities since there is red tapism everywhere.

The Chief Minister said that people come to him mostly with their personal complaints and grievances.

Some have drawn his attention to public issues like bad roads and unauthorised absence of officials from the offices in remote areas.

Most of the tribals from the far off places make it a point to bring gifts to the Chief Minister during such meetings.

On Tuesday, one tribal brought a cock, another a basket of green chillies while another brought two litres of country liquor brewed from rice.

However, the majority of them bring colourful shawls representing their distinctive tribes.

--IANS

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