Vungzagin gets ₹27 lakh aid, Kuki MLAs enjoying benefits
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, August 19 2023:
The state government had provided financial assistance of over Rs 30 lakh to MLA Vungzagin Valte, who was injured after a mob assaulted him in Nagamapal area and airlifted to Delhi after undergoing treatment at RIMS hospital for some days on May 4 .
The amount includes more than Rs 3 lakh for his wife's treatment.
Besides, all the 10 Kuki MLAs, who have been demanding separate administration since the beginning of the violence, are also enjoying their full entitled benefits like salary, incentives and other allowances.
MLA Vungzagin Valte met his fateful incident on May 4 on his way back after attending a meeting with chief minister N Biren to discuss the unfolding violence in the state.
He was grievously injured in the incident and was rushed to RIMS hospital where he underwent treatment.
A few days later, he was airlifted by the state government to Apollo Hospital in Delhi.
Source from the Manipur Legislative Assembly secretariat said that serving members and former members of the state assembly are entitled reimbursement of medical bill.
Under this entitlement, an amount of over Rs 27 lakh had been provided to MLA Vungzagin Valte along with an additional amount of more than Rs 3 lakh for his wife's treatment.
Meanwhile, salary of an MLA, according to the Salaries and Allowance of Members of the Legislativee Assembly (Manipur) 21st Amendment Act, 2020, is Rs 2.5 lakh per month.
The total amount include salary, constituency allowance, contingency allowance, entertainment allowance, telephone allowance, secretarial allowance and compensator allowance.
Besides, MLAs are entitled to allowance for travelling to any part of the country for participating in any official events approved by the Speaker and the maximum allowance for this purpose in a financial year is Rs 3 lakh.
There is also loan opportunities of up to Rs 30 lakh for buying vehicles or construction of house.
Moreover, each MLA is allowed to hire two computer assistance, one personal assistance, one PS/PRO, which expenditure will be incurred from the government exchequer.
Apart from this, they are entitled to appoint three drivers with monthly salary of over Rs 27,000 and two peons with monthly salary of Rs 22,000.They are also entitled monthly quota of petrol and diesel and other perks.
Over and above these, 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 Sanate 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.
However, they are still enjoying the full benefits they are entitled to, the source said.
Among the 10, Nemcha Kipgen and Letpao Haokip are ministers in the Biren cabinet and their salaries are drawn from the state government's GDA account while the remaining draw their salaries from the state assembly.
Despite their stand, these MLAs are still taking their full benefits by sending neutral persons, who would face no danger in Imphal, to the state assembly secretariat, the source added.
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