More power to the ADCs, ZPs : Idea of power devolution
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: September 26 2015 -

Power decentralisation. Devolution of power to the grassroots level.

This is the reason why elections are held to the Autonomous District Councils and the Zilla Parishads.

And this is the reason why some members of the ADCs and the ZPs have started exploring the possibility of coming together to pile the pressure on the State Government to devolve more meaningful authority to them.

This same thought was also echoed by the Chairman of Ukhrul ADC, Dr Yaronsho Ngalung in a chat with the Ukhrul correspondent of The Sangai Express.

As everyone knows, election to the District Councils was held in 2010 after a gap of many years and there was a reason why a boycott of the said election in 2010 was sounded in the Naga dominated hill districts of Manipur.

What followed is there for everyone to see. Though ADC election is all about devolving power to the grassroots level, the threat perception that followed the boycott call meant that the elected Members from the Naga hill districts had to stay put at Imphal to discharge their duties.

The assassination of one elected Member from Ukhrul ADC near Finch Corner, on the Imphal-Ukhrul road some time back only added to the threat perception.

Moreover no one would have forgotten the powerful bomb blast that ripped the area leading to the place where the ADC Members had stayed put under heavy security some years back and claimed the lives of two young kids.

On the contrary, the Zilla Parishads have been relatively quieter but it is more than clear that they are not very happy with the manner in which the State Government has dealt with them.

Power sharing has always been a problematic issue.

However it should be noted that the idea of power devolution will serve no purpose if the Government refuses to share the needed degree of authority with those coming at the grass root level.

The same is the case with the officialdom. How many officials are actually ready to let go of the power and authority they wield to the legally elected representatives at the grassroots level ?

How about the MLAs ? The Chief Minister may not be able to act on his own, especially when it comes to delegating power with the MLAs and others strongly opposing such a move.

Given this reality, what is perhaps needed is for the elected Members of the ADCs and the ZPs to mobilise their MLAs so that they do not oppose any move to grant them more power and authority.

It is only when the ADCs and the ZPs are adequately empowered will the concept and idea of delegating power to the grassroots level gain any meaning.

On the other hand, the elected Members of the ADCs and the ZPs too need to come to the realisation that they should not pose a threat to the influence of the MLAs and others.

There is no reason why the MLAs and the Members of the two local bodies cannot work together, if their primary objective is to work for the people at the grassroots level.