September 09, 2017: Tripura State CPIM will organize state wide agitation programme on September 14 protesting against squeezing scope of MNREGA and demanding increase in wages as well as man-days under MNREGA. Addressing a press conference today in Agartala, CPIM State Secretary Bijon Dhar said, CPIM party supporters will hold mass dharna agitation on September 18 in all of the 58 blocks in the State.
“The man-days in MNREGA slashed to 42 days in current financial year and accordingly funds from work assisting tools were also reduced. Moreover, whatever fund has been allocation, Central Government not even releasing that much fund”, Bijan Dhar alleged.
Saying that CPIM strongly protest against reducing man-days and funds for MNREGA, Dhar said, “Instead we are demanding minimum 200 man-days and daily wages to be increased from Rs 177 to Rs 300 per day”.
He also stated slashing budget and man-days under MNREGA had cast a negative impact on rural economy and in Tripura, non-availability of fund for MNREGA implementation will spoil Puja celebrations and rural people will be put under financial stress.
Referring to Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna, Bijon Dhar alleged, even after completing geo-tagging, beneficiaries are not receiving money from the Central Government in their bank accounts.
Replying to a query on candidature of Manik Sarkar as Chief Minister, CPIM State secretary cleared all the speculation and confusion. He clarified consecutive three-terms theory of CPIM and said, it is suggestive and certainly not mandatory. Replying to a question whether Manik Sarkar who will soon complete his three-terms as Chief Minister will be projected again as CM, Dhar said, “CPIM will fight in ensuing Assembly under leadership of Manik Sarkar and three-terms theory is not mandatory.”
In fact, Late Chief Minister of West Bengal Jyoti Basu served as CM from 1977 to 2000 without any break.
