ATSUM highlights ADC Bill wish to HAC : 20th jul22 ~ E-Pao! Headlines

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ATSUM highlights ADC Bill wish to HAC
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Imphal, July 19 2022: Following the resolution adopted in the second All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur (ATSUM) general assembly held on July 15 at Haipi village, the tribal student body has submitted a representation each to the Chairman of the Hill Areas Committee (HAC) and members of HAC of the Manipur Legislative Assembly highlighting the wish of the tribal people to witness the tabling of the "Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council Bill" in the ensuing 2nd session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly and passing of the same into an Act.

It can be noted here that the apex tribal student body in its second general assembly hadreiterated the demand for tabling of the Hill Areas Committee (HAC) recommended the "Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council Bill 2021" in the Manipur Legislative Assembly.

The presentation of the ATSUM urged the HAC chairmen and the members of the committee to convene a meeting of the Hill Areas Committee.

The representation of the ATSUM stated that the latter submitted this representation to apprise the HAC Chairman and members of the wish and desire of the "tribal populace" of the State to witness the tabling of the HAC recommended "The Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council Bill 2022" in the ensuing 2nd Session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly and passing of the same into an Act.

According to the ATSUM, Article 371 C of the Constitution of India read with the Manipur Legislative Assembly (Hill Areas Committee) Orders 1972 provided a scheme for separate administration of the hill areas of Manipur State through the Hill Areas Committee for executive and legislative affairs on scheduled subject matters.

The Hill Areas Committee through the Autonomous District Councils is empowered with provisions for administration of the hill areas as defined in the 1972 Presidential orders.

The ATSUM representation said that since its enactment, the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Councils, Act 1971 has gone through several amendments yet the basic principle of developing the hill areas could not be achieved but has rather resulted in disproportionate development between hills and valley of Manipur during the said period as the principal Act including all amendments has served no purpose being toothless in nature with no financial, executive and legislative autonomy.

"As such, the HAC as empowered by paragraph 4(3), paragraph 7 and Rule 12A (the Third Scheduled) of the Manipur Legislative Assembly (HAC) orders 1972, unanimously recommended the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Councils Bill 2021 which seeks to provide more autonomy to the ADC as envisaged under Article 371 C of Indian Constitution read with the Manipur Legislative Assembly (HAC) orders 1972) on the 16th of August 2021 to be tabled and passed into an Act in the 13 th session of the 11 th Manipur Legislative Assembly.

But, the State Government flatly denied the introduction of the Bill in the said session of the Assembly," the ATSUM representation mentioned.

In regard to this, according to the tribal student body, an agreement was signed by the State Government with the ATSUM, the ANSAM and the KSO-GHQ on November 25, 2021 whereby the State Government agreed to table the "Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Councils Bill 2021" in the winter Assembly session of 2021."However, even after a lapse of 8 months, neither was the Winter Assembly session convened nor has the Bill been introduced in the first session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly which was held in March 2022," it added.

In the light of this situation, the ATSUM urged that a meeting of the Hill Areas Committee, Manipur Legislative Assembly be convened, "and as unanimously decided on August 16,2021, the same position be communicated to the State Government for tabling of the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Councils Bill 2021 in the ensuing 2nd session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly and passing of the same into an Act" .

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