ADC ex-members decry Govt indifference
Source: Chronicle News Service / Newmai News Network

Imphal, July 09 2025: The Ex- ADC Members' Forum of Manipur, in its general meeting held at Kangpokpi town on Tuesday, had a lengthy discussion and deliberation on issues concerning Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) in Manipur.

A statement of the Forum issued Wednesday informed that the attendees expressed strong resentment over 'indifferent attitude' of the state government towards the ADCs.

"The government has been trying to suppress the constitutionally guaranteed democratic rights of the tribal people for years," it said.

"It is well known to all that the forum has been asking the state government for holding ADC elections, which have been due since 2020 .

However, the demand has been kept in the cold storage which is a deliberate attempt to abolish the local self-political institution of the tribals," the statement added.

Even though the ADCs are being ignored, the state government has made adequate arrangements for the urban local bodies (ULBs) so as to keep the ULBs alive.

The meeting also took serious note of the appointment of DCs as administrators of the six ADCs, which is in total contravention of the acts and rules of the District Councils, the statement informed, adding that apart from submitting various representations to the previous governments, the forum recently met the Governor and submitted a memorandum highlighting the issues related with the ADCs.

The forum then expressed profound gratitude to the Governor of Manipur for the positive response to the legitimate demand of the forum.

Tuesday's meeting resolved to question the state government as to why ADC elections are not held till today, steps taken up by the state government to empower the ADCs as per the acts and rules of the District Councils, whether the pending elections would not be facilitated in the near future, and arrangements, if any, being made by the govern ment to keep the functioning of the ADCs alive.

The forum then said it had taken a firm decision to take up all possible steps to uphold the democratic and political rights of the triBal people in letter and spirit.

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