The Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has strongly opposed the decisions made by the state cabinet, particularly to discontinue the Chief Ministergi Hakshelgi Tengbang (CMHT) scheme’s cashless health treatment facility in private hospitals starting September 30, 2024.
Speaking to the media at a press conference held at the Congress Bhawan on Saturday, senior spokesperson N Bhupenda Meitei expressed deep concern over the cabinet’s resolution, describing it as “highly unfortunate” and calling for its immediate reversal.
“The state’s economic condition is deteriorating, with retail inflation soaring to 10 per cent. In such a critical situation, the decision to withdraw the CMHT scheme from private hospitals is unacceptable,” Bhupenda said, emphasising the necessity of maintaining robust healthcare services to safeguard the wellbeing of the state’s citizens.
Bhupenda also condemned the decision to hand over the management of the Manipur Milk Producers’ Cooperative Union to the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) for a three-year term beginning in October 2024.
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He mentioned alleged embezzlement of Rs 18 crore between 2018 and 2022 within the cooperative union, a matter raised by a opposition Congress MLA during the last session of the Manipur Legislative Assembly.
Despite assurances from the chief minister and the concerned minister that a departmental inquiry would be conducted and a report submitted within a month, the cabinet’s decision to transfer management to NDDB before fulfilling these promises is “regrettable,” Bhupenda informed.
“Whether the transfer of the cooperative union’s management to NDDB, an entity with no direct provision for managing a cooperative society, might constitute a violation of the constitution”, he asked, and added that cooperative societies fall under the state list, and NDDB’s role is typically limited to providing technical assistance or suggestions.
Bhupenda also raised questions over coaching schemes for students preparing for JEE and NEET entrance exams that there are various education centres and why partnership with Akash Educational Services for NEET and FIITJEE for JEE.
