Non-release of PMEGP funds: Ao orgs seek Chief Secretary’s intervention

Mokokchung, December 15 (MExN): The Ao Senden, Watsu Mungdang, Ao Students' Conference (AKM), and Mokokchung Town Lanur Telongjem (MTLT) have drawn the attention of Nagaland Chief Secretary to intervene in the issue of non-release of PMEGP fund under Mokokchung district.  

In a joint representation to the Chief Secretary, the organizations stated that the Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) beneficiaries of the batch from 2014 till date have been running from pillars to post seeking the loans under the central flagship programme.  

“It has come to our attention that the innocent beneficiaries, after being selected by the District Selection Board (DSB) and after meeting all the criteria are still yet to receive the loans from certain banks - particularly Axis Bank Mokokchung Branch, ICICI Bank Mokokchung Branch and HDFC Mokokchung Branch,” stated the representation appended by Ao Senden president, Imliyanger Jamir; Watsu Mungdang president, Maonginla; MTLT Grievances Cell Convener, Aolong Imchen; and AKM vice president, Sunglem.  

The four organisations felt that “there seems to be some discrepancies in the disbursal of the PMEGP funds to the beneficiaries under Mokokchung district by certain banks.”  

In this regard, the four organizations, after taking into account an appeal letter from the PMEGP beneficiaries received on December 13, decided to take stock of the issue and met with the Mokokchung district administration led by the Deputy Commissioner at his office on December 14.  

However, the meeting was inconclusive which “compelled” the PMEGP beneficiaries to “encumber” the smooth transaction of the Mokokchung branches of Axis Bank, HDFC and ICICI bank for few hours, it was informed. Another meeting was held at the Mokokchung DC's office the same evening at 4:30 pm, where certain agreement was reached and the District Administration and bankers asked for more time. They were given time till December 20, 2017.  

In this connection, the four organizations appreciated the PMEGP beneficiaries for exploring all possible options, "which unfortunately could not be materialized by the above mentioned banks."  

Therefore, the organisations have appealed to the State Chief Secretary to "take up the issue with all earnestness with the Government of India (or to be more precise with the Prime Minister's Office, New Delhi) so that this kind of issue does not affect the morale and the aspirations of the young entrepreneurs of Mokokchung district.”  

Banks given time till Dec 20 to clear loan applications

Mokokchung, December 15 (MExN): The Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) beneficiaries under Mokokchung district along with civil society organizations met Mokokchung district administration in the DC office here on December 14 at 4:30 pm regarding implementation of PMEGP scheme and concerns of PMEGP applicants.  

The meeting resolved that the State Level Banker Committee will be informed about the issue of rejection of loan applications which are cleared by the District Task Force.  

It was also discussed that the bankers’ (ICICI, HDFC & AXIS) argument that the sanctioning authority is the head offices in Guwahati/Kolkata is “untenable as it is purely their internal arrangement and is not mandated in the Scheme.”  

The respective bank branch is solely responsible to communicate to the beneficiaries about the status of their application within the stipulated time as mandated in the scheme, it was asserted.  

According to the meeting minutes, the banks agreed to get in touch with their respective head offices intimating them the current prevailing situation, which led to deterioration of law and order and security concern for the banks and their closure on December 14, 2017.  

The aggrieved PMEGP applicants agreed to let the banks function normally after assurance from the Ao Senden, AKM, MTLT and district administration that the banks will clear positively all the PMEGP loan applications which were selected by the District Level Task Force Committee, starting from 2014 till date, positively by December 20.  

The banks were also asked to make their head offices understand the criticality of the situation and respond positively on the issues mentioned above.