Cabinet decision on ADC elections by Mar 31 assured
ATSUM suspends eco blockade
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 14 2021:
The indefinite economic blockade, imposed after the 24 hours bandh yesterday, has been suspended as the Government has agreed to take a Cabinet decision on ADC (Autonomous District Council) elections by March 31, said the All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur (ATSUM).
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the issue of ADC elections has been signed between ATSUM and the Government during a meeting with Chief Minister N Biren Singh at his office at 11.30 am today.
Notably, ATSUM was invited to the meeting for the second time by the State Government yesterday as it (ATSUM) held its ground to impose the indefinite economic blockade.
Earlier, the student union and the Government held their first round of meeting on March 11 which failed to find any common ground for an agreement.
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Consequently, ATSUM had imposed the 24 hours bandh in all hill districts from midnight of March 12 .
It may be mentioned that ATSUM has been demanding the Government to hold the pending elections to six existing ADCs of Churachandpur, Sadar Hills, Senapati, Chandel, Tamenglong and Ukhrul for months now.
Recently, it had reiterated its stand demanding the Government to issue the election notification by March 11 .
In a statement this evening, ATSUM said the memorandum of understanding today was signed in the presence of PHE Minister Losii Dikho, Forest Minister Awangbow Newmai, Tribal Affairs and Hills Minister Vungzagin Valte.
The MoU mentions that after thorough discussion, it was agreed that the State Cabinet will take a decision by March 31 on the issue of holding ADC elections and related matters after consulting all stakeholders and PHE Minister Losii Dikho and Tribal Affairs Minister Vungzagin Valte will coordinate with all concerned for the same.
In the meantime, ATSUM will suspend all forms of agitation in connection with the issue, said the MoU.
Meanwhile, the Government is yet to take a decision on another demand raised by the Demand Committee on Creation of Autonomous District Councils to instal the offices of the ADC at four newly created hill districts-Pherzawl, Kamjong, Noney and Tengnoupal.
It may be noted that the four districts were among seven new districts created in 2016.The demand committee has been urging the Government to create ADCs in the four districts first and then hold the elections to all the ADCs.