ATSUM asks HAC to convene meet on ADC Bill
Source: Chronicle News Service / Newmai News Network
Imphal, July 19 2022:
In pursuant to the resolution adopted in the second All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur (ATSUM) general assembly held on July 15 at Haipi village, Sadar Hills, the tribal student body has submitted
a representation each to Manipur Legislative Assembly Hill Areas Committee (HAC) chairman and members on Tuesday.
It may be noted here that the student body in its second general assembly had reiterated the demand for tabling the HAC-recommended 'The Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council Bill 2021' in the Manipur Legislative Assembly.
The representation of ATSUM urged the HAC chairman and
the members to convene a meeting of the Committee.
The representation of ATSUM further 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 so as to enact an Act.
According to the ATSUM representation , 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 HAC for Executive and Legislative affairs on scheduled subject matters.
The HAC 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 also mentioned 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 served no purpose as it 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 371C 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 13th session of the 11th Manipur Legislative Assembly.
But, the state government flatly denied the introduction of the Bill in the said session of the Assembly," the ATSUM representation noted.
The tribal student body pointed out that in regard to this, an agreement was signed by the state government with ATSUM, ANSAM and KSO-GHQ on November 25, 2021 whereby the state government agreed to table the HAC recommended 'The Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Councils Bill 2021' in the winter Assembly session of 2021 .
"However, even after a lapse of eight 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 the month of March," it added.
In the light of this situation, ATSUM urged that a meeting of the Manipur Legislative Assembly HAC be convened, "and as unanimously decided on August 16, 2021, the same position be communicated to 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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