10-DAY LONG 10TH REGIONAL SARAS FAIR CONCLUDES MIN BISWAJIT INSTRUCTS MSRLM TO PROVIDE TOLL FREE NUMBER

Imphal, October 18, 2017 (DIPR):Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister ShriThongamBiswajit Singhinstructed officials of the Manipur State Rural Livelihoods Mission to provide a toll free number of the Mission through which the public specially the beneficiaries may air their grievances to the concerned authorities.

Addressing the closing function of the Regional SARAS Fair, 2017, the Minister expressed the need to organise interaction session with the Self Help Groups so as to build up the relations. The SARAS Fair is held at the IboyaimaSumangLeelaShanglen, Imphal East.

Continuing his address, the Minister said the National Rural Livelihoods Mission is implemented in Sawombung and KeiraoBitra blocks in Imphal East and in Tengnoupal and Machi blocks in Chandel districts, said the Minister, on Tuesday, adding further that it will be implemented in all districts of the State.

The mission is implemented by the Manipur State Rural Livelihoods Mission.

The Minister said that there are plans to take up the implementation in another 12 blocks this year and subsequently spread to all blocks by 2019-20. He said that the department requires atleast 276 more staff for the implementation of the Mission and that it is preparing to seek approval of the State Cabinet for recruitment of the necessary man-power at the earliest.

Minister Biswajit also spoke at length on women empowerment citing instances from his recent European tour.

Manipur will be developed only when both the hills and the valley are developed, likewise, India can be called developed only when the whole of the country including Manipur is developed, said the Minister.

The people should also understand that the government alone cannot bring development, and that active participation from the public is required to bring development to a society, the Minister said. He added that if the public desires to see an end to corruption, we have to first change our mind-set of accepting bribes.

To err is to human and we all make mistakes, the Minister said observing that despite of all our mistakes, the common good of the society should always come first.

MSRLMState Mission Director, ShriPradeepChandren said the purpose of the NRLM is to promote the marketing of the rural products and improve the livelihood of the rural poor.