Ex-UADC members decry corruption in ADC recruitment
Source: Chronicle News Service / R Lester Makang

Ukhrul, October 24 2021: Former members of Ukhrul Autonomous District Council (UADC) have cried out against what they termed as "state government's attempt to go ahead with the controversial ADC recruitment process through corrupt means" .

Addressing a press conference at Kasomtang on Sunday, the former UADC members expressed strong resentment on alleged corruption in the recruitment process with the state government taking undue advantage of the absence of the grassroots governance in the hill districts.

Former Ukhrul north councillor Edmund Chiphang said that the attitude of the BJP-led state government towards ADCs is growing suspicious.

"Even as the TA & Hills department has issued order for suspension of the recruitment process as of now, no assurance has come forth from the government to defer the same until elections to the six ADCs are held," he contended.

Casting doubt on the suspension order, Chiphang said that "this could be mere eyewash to hoodwink the tribals into a false sense of relief.

He said that it's no secret that vacant posts under the ADCs are now being sold at a price ranging from Rs 10-15 lakh through back door.

"This is despite the fact that the CM Biren-led BJP government in the state is chanting corruption-free government and that it has even opened an anti-corruption cell.

We condemn such unscrupulous practice by the government," Chiphang said.

Alleging that the state government is working hand in glove with the incumbent caretaker chairmen of the ADCs in the recruitment process, Chiphang also pointed out that the government is using them (caretaker chairmen) as its recruitment agents in the absence of the ADCs.

"When the government installed caretaker chairmen in the ADCs, our understanding was that it was meant to expedite the process for conducting the long pending ADC elections.

But as things turned out, it was nothing but a ploy of the state government to fit its selfish scheme of things," said former councillor V Paothing.

He said that caretaker chairmanship is only a creation of the state government and is not even mandated by the Constitution.

Paothing further stated that the state government had even notified for recruitment under the ADCs in non-tribal areas like Thoubal, calling it an attempt to usurp the rights of the tribals.

He then questioned state government's move for the recruitment process which was suspended due to the pandemic, adding that the pandemic is not over yet.

"It's unconstitutional on the part of the government to go ahead with the controversial recruitment process when it should ensure early conduct of the pending elections," stated former councillor Vareshang HA.

Attending the conference, former councillors Hs Ngamsung, Thanchipem Jagoi, Kapangpam Zimik and Yangmi Shimray expressed dismay in the same vein, stating that they would not remain a silent spectator if the state government would go ahead with the recruitment process before new ADC councils are constituted.

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