AMTDGF calls off economic blockade in Manipur

Our Correspondent

Imphal, Nov 4 (EMN): The indefinite economic blockade in Manipur, called by the All Manipur Tribals Development Grievances Forum (AMTDGF) from midnight of Nov. 3, was called off on Friday.

The indefinite economic blockade was called by AMTDGF, demanding the 100 percent release of MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) funds to all districts of Manipur.

The forum called off the blockade imposed along the National Highway-2 (Dimapur to Imphal) and National Highway-37 (Jiribam-Imphal) after the state government assured the release of remaining funds under MGNREGA to all districts of Manipur.

AMTDGF also appealed to the state government to release all the executives and blockade supporters detained by police without any condition. It may be noted that the state police had detained six people in Manipur in connection with the blockade.

On Nov. 3, State Transport Minister Khashim Vashum appealed to AMTDGF to withdraw the economic blockade in the interest of the general public and upcoming Sangai Festival — an annual tourism promotional festival — as the blockade would cause inconvenience to the masses.

The Minister also admitted that the government is taking all possible steps to release the funds at the earliest, adding that the process for releasing a sum of INR 140 crore is underway through treasury offices.

Earlier the state’s Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department in a press note issued on Nov. 2 said that the state government had received INR 756.50 crore for MGNREGS which is meant for all 16 districts of the state, out of which INR 100 crore have been disbursed and allocated for all 16 districts irrespective of hill or valley districts. Further, an additional amount of INR 150 crore will be released soon and the remaining will be released in due course, it stated.