The Mon State government has allocated Ks 100 million special budget for Mon affairs and Ks 250 million for Bamar, Kayin, and Pa-O affairs in the Mon State, according to the Mon State Hluttaw Deputy Speaker Dr. Aung Naing Oo.
“They (the government) make the allocations based on the existence of an ethnic affairs minister. There’s no minister for the Mon people. Is that why they are not included in the allocation? We discussed that [the budget] can be included even if there is no [minister for Mon affairs]. That’s why they included Ks 100 million for the Mon people. Now, they will provide Ks 350 million for ethnic affairs from the state budget in line with the law,” said Dr. Aung Naing Oo.
He continued that the allocated budget of Ks 100 million includes normal expense and it will be provided every year. The budget will be evenly divided to support special ceremonies of the Mon people, Mon literature and culture, and the Mon national school.
Although the Mon State Hluttaw has urged the state government to appoint a minister to oversee Mon affairs, the state chief minister said he will personally oversee it.
The Mon State Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation Dr. Min Kyi Win said the Union Ministry of Ethnic Affairs should oversee the budget allocation and support for ethnic affairs.
“The Ministry of Ethnic Affairs’ office has been opened. There must be a budget for the office. There must be work implementation. Cooperation must be made with all ethnic people. This office must fulfill the needs of the ethnic people,” said Dr. Min Kyi Win.
The Mon State Chief Minister will provide Ks 50 million from the state development budget to the All Mon Region Mon Literature and Culture Association, which is giving summer classes on Mon literature.
The Mon State government has also provided Ks 50 million to the 71st Mon National Day Organizing (Central).
