Protestors burn effigies of 10 Kuki-Zo MLAs in Manipur
Imphal: Effigies of 10 Kuki-Zo MLAs who enjoy collecting crores of rupees from the government coffer without attending/discharging their offices/duties for the past year were set aflame.
The effigies were burnt during a protest demonstration organised by various organisations including PYAL, Thougei Pangei Yangdong, PYYDA, and WWA Pangei at Pangei Yangong in Imphal East district as a mark of completion of one year of the ethnic violence in the state.
Irate protestors during the function alleged that these MLAs are still taking their full benefits, entitled to them by sending neutral persons, who would face no danger in Imphal, to the state assembly secretariat.
After the violence between the Kukis and Meiteis started on May 3, 2023, there were two assembly sessions.
In the sixty-member Manipur Legislative Assembly, there are 10 Kuki-Zo MLAs.
All these MLAs skipped the sessions but are enjoying various means to collect huge amounts of money.
The Salaries and Allowance of Members of the Legislative Assembly (Manipur) 21st Amendment Act, 2020, is Rs 2.5 lakh per month.
The total amount includes salary, constituency allowance, contingency allowance, entertainment allowance, telephone allowance, secretarial allowance, and compensator allowance.
Besides, MLAs are entitled to an allowance for travelling to any part of the country to participate in any official events approved by the Speaker and the maximum allowance for this purpose in a financial year is Rs 3 lakh.
There are also loan opportunities of up to Rs 30 lakh for buying vehicles or construction of houses.
Moreover, each MLA is allowed to hire two computer assistants, one personal assistant, and one PS/PRO, which expenditure will be incurred from the government exchequer.
Moreover, they are entitled to appoint three drivers with a monthly salary of over Rs 27,000 and two people with a monthly salary of Rs 22,000.
They are also entitled monthly quota of petrol and diesel and other perks.
Apart from this, each MLA is awarded Rs 2 crore in a financial year under MLA’s Local Area Development Fund, which they can use at their discretion for purposes prescribed in the rules.
The 10 Kuki MLAs, namely Nemcha Kipgen of Saikul AC, Letpao Haokip of Tengnoupal AC, Kimneo Hangshing of Saikul AC, Haokholet Kipgen of Saitu AC, NguranglUr Senate of Tipaimukh AC, Vungzagin Valte of Thanlon AC, Letzamang Haokip of Henglep AC, LM Khaute of Churachandpur AC, Paolienlal Haokip of Saikot AC and Chinlunthang Manlun of Singhat AC, have been demanding separate administration for Kukis since the violence unfolded in the state.
Among them, Nemcha Kipgen and Letpao Haokip are ministers in the Biren Singh-led BJP government in Manipur, and their salaries are drawn from the state government's GDA account while the remaining draw their salaries from the state assembly.