Biren announces new scheme for widows

Newmai News Network Imphal | October 20   On the eve of the auspicious occasion of the festival of Ningol Chakouba 2017, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh today announced a new scheme “CMgi Laiyeng Shen” under the Minorities and Other Backward Classes (MOBC) Department, Government of Manipur for all the widows belonging to the under privileged sections of society. Under this new scheme, each widow will receive an amount up to Rs 15,000 as reimbursement towards medical expenses every year. All the widows belonging to the Minorities, Other Backward Classes and Schedule Castes will be covered under the new scheme.   The Chief Minister said that this new scheme is a "small gift" from the his government to the "beloved sisters and mothers" of the State on the occasion of first Ningol Chakouba festival after the "formation of the new government".   Ningol Chakouba is one of the most important festivals of the Meitei community where married women are invited to their parental homes or by their brothers for feasting. Gifts are given to the married women and their children by parents and brothers on the occasion.   N Biren Singh then said that the government has also initiated the process for a health insurance scheme for all the widows belonging to Minorities, Other Backward Classes and Schedule Castes of the State. The premium for the health insurance will be paid by the government, he added. N. Biren Singh mentioned that the objective of such scheme is to ensure that none of the widow sisters and mothers faces distress at the time of acute need.   On the occasion, the Chief Minister also assured to the people that the new women’s markets in the hill districts which are under construction will be dedicated and inaugurated in January, 2018 as New Year gift to "mothers and sisters" of hill districts of the State.