Imphal, October 19 2010: A meeting of the State Cabinet today deliberated on the report concerning the devolution of power to the Autonomous (Hills) District Councils (ADCs) submitted by the Hill Areas Committee of the State Assembly recently.

Mention may be made here that the State Cabinet handed over the onus to the HAC to look into the matter of devolution of power to the six ADCs which were installed in five hill districts of the state after holding elections under Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act (Amendment) 2008 in May and June last.

The HAC compiled a report by constituting a sub-committee, and the same was submitted to the Chief Minister, O Ibobi on October 16.The Chief Minister is understood to have tabled the report at the Cabinet meeting held this afternoon.

After a thorough discussion on the matter, the Cabinet reportedly resolved to seek approval from the respective departments of which powers are to be shared with the ADCs, and issue an order regarding the devolution of powers, an official source said.

The Cabinet also approved of handing over the posts of chairmen of the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), which had been taken out from the respective districts to the ADC chairmen of each district.

The meeting also discussed the coordination between then HAC and the Hill Departments in taking up developmental works in the hill areas.

The Cabinet also approved deputation of one MCS officer to each of the six ADCs to assist the respective chairman in discharging his duties.

They will function as Chief Executive Officers.

The Department of Personnel, General Administrative Division will depute the officers in consultation with the hill department.

Earlier, the government considered deputation of an IAS officer to each of the ADCs for assisting in the administration of the ADCs.

The Cabinet also approved raise in the Dearness Allowance (DA) of government employees, pensioners and family pensioners 10 percent more above the existing 35 percent.

The raise in the DA has been done in accordance with the Central government's recent hike in the DA of its employees.

The draft rule for free and compulsory education to children under the Right to Education Act, 2009, which is in force in the state, has also been approved by the Cabinet.