By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The irregular disbursement of monthly stipends has forced the ANVC cadres, currently under ceasefire, to explore new avenues to eke out a living.
The cadres of the outfit have not been getting their monthly stipend of Rs 3, 000 since February this year.
“For the last seven months we are not getting the stipend and we are compelled to do business in Garo Hills”, the ANVC publicity secretary Arist Sangma told The Shillong Times on Saturday.
The ANVC leader said while some have got engaged in some contract works, others have taken recourse to do business.
“The cadres, who have families, are the worst affected,” Sangma said.
According to him, doing business is very much legal as the cadres are facing financial problems. Other wise, they will be compelled to join other militant organizations, he added.
In the past, there were cases of HNLC militants holed up in Bangladesh working as labourers in the betel nut plantations there to sustain themselves.
The financial crunch had also resulted in the surrender of many HNLC cadres after fleeing from Bangladesh.
The ANVC, formed in 1995 had initially demanded the formation of a separate state for Garos , but with the hope of setting up a Garoland Autonomous Council, the ANVC later scalded down from their earlier demand of separate Garo state. The militant outfit is under ceasefire since 2004.
There was no political level talks held with the ANVC to finalize their demand for the formation of Garoland Autonomous Council .
The ANVC leaders met Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma on several occasions, but the demand is yet to be fulfilled by the State Government.
