Imphal: The Manipur Naga Youth Organisation (MNYO) has demanded the public disclosure of project allocations and expenditure amid allegations of widespread fund diversion in the hill districts.
In an official statement, the youth body claimed that capital investment funds under the “Pride of The Hills” component of the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme had been used in violation of established guidelines.
The organisation also alleged that development funds were being disproportionately allocated to Kuki-dominated areas, sidelining other tribal and non-Kuki communities.
The MNYO also alleged systemic failures in the VB-GRAM G scheme, claiming that wage payments to registered job card holders were consistently delayed by 40 to 50 days.
It attributed the delays to frequent application upgrades and criticised what it described as an arbitrary payment system that resulted in workers receiving different wages for the same number of workdays.
The organisation further said that payments for the material component of the scheme had remained pending since 2023, causing financial difficulties for local implementing agencies and vendors.
The youth body called for the immediate removal of Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen from the Tribal Affairs and Hills portfolio.
It also demanded that the incumbent Director and Joint Director be replaced with politically independent officers
The statement called for the clearance of all outstanding liabilities, timely payment of pending wages and a uniform, transparent payment system for both rural and urban areas.