ADCs likely to join hands with ZPs
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 24 2015:
In order to ensure meaningful devolution of powers for establishment of effective local bodies in the hill districts, ADCs are likely to join hands with the Zilla Parishads of the valley for a sustained campaign.
Some ADC Members told The Sangai Express that the ADC election was held in 2010 after a gap of almost 20 years under strict instruction from the Government of India.
Another round of ADC election was held this year.
After the ADC election of 2010, the ADCs were not given due powers under the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act 1971.Even as the State Government issued an order for devolution of powers to ADCs pertaining to 26 departments, the devolution of powers was just for name sake and it remained on paper only.
ADC Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen held several meetings with Chief Minister O Ibobi on actual devolution of powers to ADC but to no avail because some Cabinet Ministers and MLAs were deadly opposed to devolution of powers to ADCs, they said.
The ADC election of 2010 was held amidst all kinds of violence, threats and disturbances.
Many of the candidates and their families faced many hardships.
Just as in Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur and Thoubal districts, there are District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs) in Tamenglong, Ukhrul, Senapati, Churachandpur and Chandel.
However, funds sanctioned for flagship programmes like MGNREGS, AAY etc through DRDA never reached ADCs of the five hill districts.
ADC Members are fully aware that it would be a herculean task to take control of development funds from the hands of MLAs who have been managing these funds for almost 20 years when there were no ADCs in the hill districts.
ADC Members have made all possible efforts to bring about actual devolution of powers.
They have lobbied with the Prime Minister and many other Ministers of the Government of India but all their efforts yielded very little positive results.
Now, they have started communicating with the Zilla Parishads on the issue.
Already two rounds of meetings have been held between Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of ADCs and Adhakshya and Up-Adhakshya of Zilla Parishads.
The meetings discussed about adopting a common approach to persuade the Government and ensure adequate devolution of powers to local bodies of both the hills and the valley, added the ADC Members.