Congress MLA from Mariani Rupjyoti Kurmi. Image: Northeast Now

Mariani MLA Rupjyoti Kurmi has appealed to the Assam government to distribute Rs 90 lakh from his MLA Local Area Development (MLALAD) fund to the needy in his constituency.

Kurmi said he has submitted a letter in this regard to the Jorhat deputy commissioner on Tuesday.

On April 17, he had also written to the state finance minister in this regard, the MLA said.

“In the second phase of the lockout we have identified 18,000 families. There could be more, who should be given at least Rs 500 each. The total sum would be about Rs 90 lakh,” Kurmi said adding that he is given Rs 1 crore for the local area development.

Kurmi further said the money should be distributed to the farmers, daily wage earners and the middle class, mostly small shopkeepers through the government mechanism.

On giving money in the first phase of the lockdown, Kurmi said the government has given Rs 1,000 to several families living below poverty line (BPL) in each panchayat.

The government has also doubled the rations of the cardholders, but despite this there are many who have been left out, he said.

“The AJYCP and some other organisations pitched in to make up the shortfall in the first phase. I too helped out as best as I could but in the second phase there are many whose savings have now got exhausted following the extended lockdown and the numbers have increased,” he said.

“I do not know whether I will be elected next time or not but as of today, no one should be in want irrespective of party affiliations,” Kurmi, who belongs to the Congress party. said.

Smita Bhattacharyya is Northeast Now Correspondent in Jorhat. She can be reached at: [email protected]