“About hundred people are being lent money from USDP in Falam Township, Chin state alone including me. We have to pay one lakh Kyat as earnest money to the local authorities, if we borrow 3 lakhs Kyats,” said a member of USDP from Falam.

The local people borrow money at the interest rate of three Kyats for every hundred Kyat from moneylenders and the authorities use this to spend on its staff monthly salary and office management.

“Besides, the authorities cut 10 % from income generated from motorcycle fine money and wheel taxes,” said a local.

“The fine from two wheelers is submitted to the authorities and they manage the office with it,” said a traffic police from Hakha.

The in-charge of the district USDP office in Falam Township gets Kyat 80,000, the party secretary gets Kyat 70,000 and five executive members are getting Kyat 25,000 each as monthly salary.

Similarly, Chin state USDP executive members in eight townships are getting the respective amount of salaries.

The development programs are run by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and The United Nations Children’s Fund – UNICEF through the Burmese military government in Chin state while USDP’s local authority will be monitor funds from India. Khonumthung news