Mizoram Polls 2023: MNF rubbishes allegations by rivals, says SEDP a success

MNF advisor Lalnunmawia said that the flagship family oriented SEDP will continue if the party is voted to power again and MNF will also launch another SEDP for educated unemployed

By Arindam Das

Amid allegations from opposition Congress and the BJP that its flagship welfare scheme, Socio Economic Development Programme (SEDP) is a scam and has failed miserably, ruling Mizo National Front’s (MNF) today said that SEDP is neither a sham nor a scam but has performed well and have reached the maximum number of targeted population though the government did face hurdles in the form of finances and other issues due to COVID.

Speaking exclusively to Northeast Live, MNF Advisor Prof F Lalnunmawia said, “This is not a scam because it has reached the poor families. The SEPD has reached the poor families, labourers’ families. The main objective is to support them in their respective trades like horticulture, agriculture and others. It is successfully implemented and we are going to continue with it in the next term also if voted to power. We had already selected 1,80,000 families out of 2.5 lakh families in Mizoram. We are going to select many more families if we come back to power.”

“We have put SEDP as the flagship programme of MNF. Until now 60,000 families have been provided Rs 50,000 each in the first phase of the family oriented SEDP. Again in the 2nd phase 60, 000 families were given Rs 25,000 each. We will continue with this financial assistance upto Rs 3 lakh. But because of the COVID-19 pandemic and financial problems we could not provide upto Rs 3 lakh. But this will be continued, the family oriented SEDP will be continued if MNF comes to power,” Prof Lalnunmawia said.

Prof Lalnunmawia did mention that after the rollout of SEDP, the government had to face a few hurdles owing to COVID-19 pandemic and financial constraints, but has succeeded to serve the purpose.

The MNF is mulling rolling out a separate SEDP especially for the youth who are educated but unemployed.

Sharing details about this, the MNF advisor said, “This time we have a youth oriented SEDP, the previous one was family oriented and that will continue. This time the youth oriented SEDP will focus on the youth of Mizoram, especially the educated unemployed youths of Mizoram. Many jobless youths will be given financial assistance to start their business as a start-up programme. The educated youths will just have to make a plan and project proposal and submit to the government. After that the state government would provide financial assistance to start their business. This will give employment to thousands of youths in Mizoram.”

Read also: Mizoram Polls 2023: 30 polling stations identified as vulnerable

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