Ex-ADCs caution district-wide protest, ridicule GTH
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, September 20 2021: Pointing put that All Hill Areas Autonomous District Councils, Ex-ADCs' Association, Manipur has been demanding payment of pension similar to those enjoyed by councillors of the ADCs of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, etc, since the last term, the association has cautioned of launching district-wide democratic protest if the state government fails to fulfil their demand.

In a release, the association recalled that after protracted defunct, ADCs of Manipur resumed functioning since 2010 under the 2008 Act but it could not serve the purpose and satisfy the public due to non-devolution of power.

While commending the Hill Areas Committee of the legislative assembly for proposing the ADC Bill 2021 and recommending the same to the state cabinet for introduction in the assembly, the release contended that the cabinet undermined the importance of tabling the Bill in the assembly.

Further conveyed that it endorses the demand of ATSUM to convene a special assembly session for passing the bill at the earnest, the Association also declared its outright opposition to department of TA & Hills approving direct recruitment process for filling up vacant posts in the Autonomous District Councils and likened the move io taking undue advantage of the of the absence of elected members of the hills.

As the said recruitment process is totally against the sentiments of the hill people, the same should be kept in abeyance with immediate effect, the association demanded.

With regard to launch of the "Go to Hills" mission soon after the BJP-led coalition formed the government in the state, the Association opined that at first, the hill people fully supported the mission thinking it would bring sustainable development in the hill districts.

However, it could not deliver the need and expectation of the common people, the release maintained while noting that the hill people do not trust "Go to Hills" mission now unless a separate budget is earmarked for the same.

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