Beauty queen blasts FABECO for holding back prize money

IMPHAL, February 12: Chongtham Priya, FABECO Miss Manipur 2000 expressed strong concern over the statement of the FABECO executive committee published in local papers to the effect that the cash awards for this year's Miss Manipur winners would be distributed only at the next contest organised by the organisation. A total cash amount of Rs 90,000 for the Miss Manipur 2000 title winner, 1st Runner, 2nd runner and best designer have not been disbursed as yet, Chongtham Priya told IFP when the later contacted her. She expressed suspicion that FABECO's contest has been organised for commercial reasons and the contestant girls were used as the means to earn their private money without considering the consequences. She also appealed that this should be considered as a common issue. She said a complaint will be registered with the state police in this connection, adding that she has already submitted an appeal to AMSU head quarter recently. In the meantime, the office of the FABECO at Paona Bazar remain closed after the main event and every attempt to speak with the executive members including its general secretary over the telephone failed. During the prize distribution ceremony after the Miss Manipur contest, the title winner revealed, the committee gave her an envelope with a written note "Please come and collect the cash award from FABECO's office" without mentioning the date and time. She also disclosed that, in a meeting with the executive committee of FABECO on February 4 last the office, the latter had declared that 25% of the prize amount had to be deposited with the FABECO, in addition to half the remaining being utilised for programmes of public awareness. Only half of the amount will be disbursed to the winners. Pointing out that this was nowhere included in the rules and regulations of the contest, she observed that till now there has no news or reports of the public awareness programmes carried out by FABECO since the last 3/4 years that it had organised beauty contests. She said the present system has totally brought down the image of those organisations, which are interested in holding beauty contests in the State.