Governor, ADC discuss exploits and problems
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 04 2012:
An exhaustive discussion has been initiated between the Governor and Autonomous District Councils on the achievements and problems of Autonomous District Councils which were revived two years back after a gap of almost 20 years.
At the meeting which started since May 2 at Raj Bhavan, the ADC are represented by their respected Chairman, Vice Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and DRDA Director.
Governor Gurbachan Jagat had meeting with ADC Ukhrul on May 2, ADC Senapati on May 3 and ADC Sadar Hill today.
Similar meetings would be held with ADC Tamenglong on May 5, ADC Churachandpur on May 7 and ADC Chandel on May 8 .
According to information culled by press about what transpired during today's meeting, the Sadar Hills ADC Chairman and the Vice Chairman maintained that whatever amount released by the Government for development schemes/projects were utilised to the optimum level.
Incidentally, as per an order issued by the Government earlier, the ADC's have been empowered with respected to 26 departments.
However, the ADCs have been authorised to utilise only 20 per cent of the total funds sanctioned by the Government for hill areas.
Even as the ADCs have been empowered with respect to 26 departments, sufficient funds have not been released.
Though the ADCs have been empowered to handle school education from Primary level to Junior High School level, no fund has been sanctioned so far.
Within Sadar Hills, there are more than 1000 students, 184 schools and 119 teachers.
Though the ADC is said to have been empowered, not a single teacher has been transferred to the ADC.
The first instalment of fund sanctioned from the 13th Finance Commission was already released and the same amount has been used in repairing/developing inter village roads.
However, utilization certificates have not been submitted as yet.
MGNREGS works being implemented under DRDA are not handled by the ADC.
As the number of households in most of the Kuki villages within Sadar Hills does not reach 100, MGNREGS works are being handled by SDOs and village authorities.
As for villages which have more than 100 households, the same work should be handled by the ADC.
Nevertheless, 50 per cent of the total funds sanctioned for hill districts through TD Department has been allocated to ADCs.
The Sadar Hills ADC leaders put all these points before the Governor today.
They also remarked that the meeting was a positive step.