Our Correspondent
IMPHAL, March 2
Minister of Social Welfare department and cooperation Ak Mirabai today informed the assembly that her department will start releasing monthly old age pension (MOAP) for the beneficiaries in the state prior to Cheiraoba, the New Year festival here.
Minister Mirabai made this assusrance while replying to a question by opposition MLA Kh Joykishan of Trinamool Congress in the assembly today.
Minister further admitted that there are around 45,799 MOAP beneficiaries in the state.An amount of Rs 200 per month per beneficiaries were provided under the scheme.“So far a total of Rs 11,80,60,200 has been released since 2012 till date for the beneficiaries under the programme”, she added.
Reacting to supplementary question, she also said that a sum of Rs 5,45,50,600 has been released during the year 2012-13. Similarly the MOAP for the year 2013-14 has sanctioned for 31,054 benefiaciaries and the state cabinet sitting held on November 14 last year had even given approval to the programme.So the pending MOAP from March 2013 to February 2015 will be released prior to Cheiraoba festival as the ongoing assembly session had discussed and passed the said amount, she further informed.] On specific question on non-release of MOAP for Thangmeiband constituency, minister suggested to consult the concerned district social welfare officer for the necessary steps.
In another reply to another question by MLA L Ibomcha of NCP, Minister Mirabai also informed that the state has received instruction for establishment of a state ICDS (Integrated child development scheme) mission directorate to strengthen the ICDS programmes in the state. Besides the state mission steering group and state empowered programme committee were constituted on October 21,2013 followed by further action for recruitment of 202 staffs of ICDS mission on contract basis. For this the approval of committee of officers has been obtained on June 5 last year and process is underway for obtaining approval of the cabinet.
However the Director of the said directorate is yet to be appointed. The department has formed two different committees for the further steps, she added.
