Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh has warned of action against well-off people or government employees who are enjoying benefits of the government’s schemes that are meant for poor people, labourers and other weaker sections of society.

He attributed it to irregularities in data collection and dishonesty of a section of officials.

Addressing a gathering on the occasion of World AIDS Day on Saturday at the 1st Battalion Manipur Rifles ground here on Saturday, the chief minister said: “Those undeserved beneficiaries should surrender beneficiary cards before the government takes action against them.”

“It is a matter of concern that 36 per cent of the population of the state is still below poverty line (BPL) though per-head funds provided by the Centre to the state is three times higher compared to bigger states. If any well-to-do or government employee is wrongfully enjoying benefits under a government scheme, it can be assumed that he or she has snatched the rights of a poor person who deserves to get the benefits,” he added.

The day was observed under the theme Know Your HIV Status.

Governor Najma Heptulla said it was imperative to make modifications and improvements in the state AIDS policy because of changing circumstances and trend. She expressed the hope that experts and intellectuals in this field would give suggestions that would be of immense help to society in mitigating the bane of HIV/ AIDS.

She appealed to the state’s youths to become more aware of HIV/AIDS issues and participate in the programmes and policies of the government and NGOs.

She said: “It is the responsibility of society at large, particularly women, to have greater involvement in the fight against HIV/AIDS to safeguard the future of Manipur. HIV-test is a must for expanding the ambit of treatment to ensure all those living with HIV can live a healthy and productive life,” she said.

Biren Singh said though the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate was declining in the state, there was still a need for collective hard work of public, NGOs and the government to achieve the target of having no new HIV infection in Manipur by 2024. As per the records provided by the state health department, the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in the state is 1.43 per cent against the all-India rate of .022 per cent,” he said.

People living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIVs) should never be stigmatised and discriminated against, he added.

Members of NGOs, PLHIVs, schoolchildren, NCC cadets, Manipur AIDS Control Society (Macs) employees and the public took out a rally from Hao Ground to the 1st Battalion Manipur Rifles ground.