Imphal, Sept 23: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India is sanctioning over Rs. 4,40,20,000/- to the Government of Manipur for payment of stipends to the cadres of SoO signatory the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United Peoples’ Front (UPF).
Both KNO and UPF are the conglomerate of various Kuki armed rebel group in the state and are demanding a separate Kuki state by segregating portion of the Manipur’s territory. Initially, the government of Manipur had stated that both the apex UG group had no intention for demand of a separate state by segregating the territory of Manipur but it was later comes up as an official demands by the two apex group, after representatives of both the group put up the demand for a separate state as the top priority demand in the first round of tripartite political dialogue held at New Delhi on June 15, 2016.
According to a source, the amount sanction by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India is Rs. 4,40,74,000/. This amount is released to the state government through the advice of the Reserve Bank of India.
The amount sanction is for payment of stipend for the UPF and KNO cadres for the period from September 2013 till February 2015.
The source added that the state government propose a sum of Rs. 7,07,28,000/ for payment of stipends of the two UG groups and as per the Rehabilitation Scheme modules the MHA is releasing Rs. 4,24,20,000/- which is 60% of the total amount.
As per the Home Ministry source, number of cadres in the UPF is 1004 and number of cadres in KNO is 1096.
Under the Rehabilitation Scheme for the Surrendered UGs stipends are paid to the cadres of the outfit and the amount paid to them is reimbersed by the Ministry of Home Affairs.