Higher package to UALA irks ANVC-B

SHILLONG: Former cadres of the United A’chik Liberation Army (UALA) are getting a better rehabilitation package than those of the erstwhile A’chik National Volunteers Council-B (ANVC-B), the latter has said.
In a statement, the organising secretary of the disbanded ANVC-B, AR Marak, said while its members are getting only Rs 1.5 lakh, the UALA cadres are getting Rs 2.5 lakh.
“The government paid Rs 2.5 lakh to UALA cadres who are faction of ANVC-B but is paying only Rs 1.5 lakh to (former members of) the mother organisation. Is there a political agenda in favouring UALA over ANVC-B,” Marak said.
Marak said the decision before disbanding the organisation was that cadres will get Rs 2.5 lakh. “The matter (of discrepancy in rehabilitation package) needs to be reviewed,” he added.
Recently, police said four ANVC-B cadres are yet to be traced and hence their package could not be disbursed. “Many cadres who are in contact with us are not aware of the package being deposited in their accounts. We are not even aware of who are the cadres who could not be traced,” the statement read.
The ANVC-B statement said most of the cadres have not received the money and they are unhappy with the release of fund to those who submitted the accounts bypassing the leaders.
Marak said the names of the cadres were verified a couple of times but the names of the general secretary and other senior members were not on the list, “which is creating a big confusion”. “Police should verify the receipt of the packages with our former cadres before issuing any statement to the media,” the organisation added.
The group wants a meeting with the government.