Dismayed ADCs reiterate Sixth Schedule Provision
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Lamka, October 16 2014: Dismayed over the non devolution of powers to the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) under the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council, Third Amendment Act 2008 even after four years four years of ADC elections, the Autonomous District Councils of the six districts of the state demanded implementation of the long pending demand for extension of Sixth Schedule of Indian Constitution in the Hill Areas of Manipur.

'Even after four years of elections, we see no change and are denied powers bestowed under the said Act which has listed 26 (twenty six) subjects under its Section 29 sub-section (1)', lamented ADC Chairman of Churachandpur Langkhanpau Guite, while adding that "we feel proud to be part of the Indian democracy, but it pained our heart to experience alienation, discrimination, deprivation and subjugation.

Several memoranda have been submitted to the State as well as to the Central Govt.to redress our grievances, unfortunately all these prayers have so far remained unnoticed" .

Elaborating his point, he said that strengthening the ADCs under the Sixth Schedule will bring down the unrest and chaos in Manipur's hill areas, and development and progress will subsequently follow.

The existing six Autonomous District Councils (ADC) in Manipur namely Churachandpur, Chandel, Sadar Hills, Senapati, Ukhrul and Tamenglong were installed in the year 1973 in pursuance of the North Eastern Reorganization Act, 1971 which later became a Parliamentary Act called 'The Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 1971 .

However, due to non devolution of the powers and functions under the said Acts and Rules, the ADC Election had been withheld since 1989 in demand for extending the provisions of the Sixth Schedule Provision of the Indian Constitution to these ADCs.

Three successive state governments in the State had adopted resolutions for 6th schedule implementation based on the recommendation of the Hill Areas Committee (HAC) Manipur.

However, the issue was kept in abeyance by the State Government despite repeated reminders from the Centre.

After 20 years, the ADCs were revived and elections were held in 2010 with a renewed hope under the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council, Third (3rd) Amendment Act, 2008. But to utter dismay of hill people, there has been no change and powers under the said Act are denied.

According to the new Act, there were 26 (twenty six) subjects enlisted under Section 29 in sub-section (1) of the principal Act.

The Hill Areas of Manipur is the only Tribal Areas in North East India which is ignored, unattended and unjustly left out from extension of the Sixth Schedule Provision of the Constitution of India, whereas, all other Tribal Areas in the whole of the North Eastern States such as Mizoram, Meghalaya, Assam and Tripura were under 6th schedule Provision to safeguard the interests, customs and culture of the tribals, said one of the ADC chairmen.

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