Covid-19 Affected Livelihood Support Scheme launched in Manipur

Our Correspondent
Imphal, Aug. 22 (EMN): Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh while launching Chief Minister’s Covid-19 Affected Livelihood Support Scheme on Sunday maintained that the state government had been working sincerely with an aim to uplift the poor and weaker sections of the state.

Informing that an officer of Social Welfare department would be deputed to Manipur State Co-operative Bank Ltd., he said that people who sincerely want to earn their livelihood could meet the officer stationed at the bank and avail loan without requiring any guarantor.

It may be mentioned that the Chief Minister’s Covid-19 Affected Livelihood Support Scheme which aims to provide direct transfer of INR 5000 in two equal installments (INR 2500 per installment) to every beneficiary was introduced considering economic dislocations, which had severely affected the livelihood of a large percentage of the population leading to an inability to maintain a basic minimum standard of living. The state cabinet had approved the scheme in July.

Biren Singh also mentioned that 22,336 applications including 13,651 from street vendors, 4,890 from transport drivers, 3,680 from van drivers and 145 artists have been received under the scheme. Out of them, 7,943 had been verified and of this, first installment was distributed to 6,276 applicants on Sunday bearing a total amount of around INR 1.56 crore. The second installment would be disbursed within September this year, he added.

He appealed to the public to be sincere and abstain from making any false document to get the benefit, while applying for any schemes.

In his speech Education Minister, S Rajen said the state had shown much improvement in many sectors, whether law and order, education, health infrastructure, water supply and others, under the leadership of Biren Singh.

On the other hand, Secretary to CM N Geoffrey stated that the scheme was introduced under the supervision of the Chief Minister considering the effect of Covid-19 pandemic to the livelihood of a large percentage of population, especially vulnerable groups without regular source of income.

During the function, financial assistance under Chief Minister’s Covid-19 Affected Livelihood Support Scheme was distributed to some selected beneficiaries like street vendors, van drivers, public transport drivers and artists among others from different districts.