Imphal: The Government of India has allocated Rs 5.83 crore for the stipend of 1,435 cadres of the United National Liberation Front (UNLF-Pambei group), the oldest armed group of Manipur, which is currently engaged in peace talks.
This statement was made in reply to a supplementary question raised by opposition Congress MLA Surjakumar Okram on the sixth day of the seventh session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly on Monday.
The UNLF-Pambei group signed a peace agreement with the Union government in New Delhi on November 29, 2023. As part of the first installment of stipends for the insurgent cadres, the Centre has allocated Rs 5.83 crore for five months, covering December 2023 to April 2024. Under the peace pact, each insurgent cadre is to receive Rs 6,000 per month as a stipend.
In response to another query from MLA Surjakumar regarding the stipend for the remaining period, Home Minister Govindas stated that the state government has submitted a report to the Union Home Ministry for the second installment, amounting to Rs 5.16 crore, covering six months from May 2024 to October 2024.
The minister clarified that the stipend is processed every six months.
When asked about backlogged stipends, the Home Minister assured that the state government is in constant touch with the Centre to clear them at the earliest.
Notably, the UNLF was formed on November 24, 1964. Currently, the outfit has two factions—one led by Pambei (which signed the peace pact) and the other by Koireng.