Mon Hluttaw begins public opinion poll for Ye township development

Juri Chai – On Nov. 24 several Mon Hluttaw representatives began conducting a public opinion poll in Ye Township, Mon State, to gauge locals’ needs and vision for regional development.

“As a precursor to township development we are monitoring public opinions throughout the villages. We will submit our findings to the Mon State Minister, such as estimated electricacl expenses and water supply needs. If the Mon State Minister can’t provide for these expenses we will appeal to the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw,” said Dr. Banyar Aung Moe, Amyotha Hluttaw representative, of Ye township constituency.

Mi Myint Than, a Pyithu Hluttaw representative, also of Ye Township, said that water supply, electrical access and infrastructure such as roads and bridges are among the main requests from locals.
 
Dr. Banyar Aung Moe also said that polls have already been conducted in Taungpyin, Taungpon, Kawdute, Mawkanin, Kalargote and Hninkayin villages, northern Ye Township, and are set to continue in other villages.

A Mawkanin villager requested 24-hour electrical power, noting that villagers currently have to pay 550 kyat per meter unit plus an additional 500 kyat per month for meter maintenance service.

“What I use now is from a privately owned power generator and it costs a lot. If we could use the government’s electric power, one unit would cost only 50 kyat and it would be much more convenient,” said the villager.
 
Ye Township development will be led by respective regional Amyotha Hluttaw representatives, a Pyithu Hluttaw representative, and State Hluttaw representatives. Priorities for the region include access to water, education, health care, and transportation projects.

The budget for regional development is allocated by Pyidaungsu Hluttaw [union parliament] and is separate from the national budget for government expenses.
 
It was announced at a Pyidaungsu Hluttaw meeting in April 2013 that 33 billion kyat will be allocated for local development throughout 330 townships nationwide. Each township will receive roughly 100,000,000 kyat for local development.