ADCs demand devolution of power
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 05 2013 : Demanding more autonomy and adequate devolution of power apart from incorporating separate amount in the State budget for the six Autonomous District Councils of Manipur, the ADC Members have threatened to launch agitation of different kinds from next week.

Speaking to media persons at the Chingmeirong ADC Bhavan, Autonomous District Council Co-ordinating Committee Manipur (ADCCCM) secretary Hemjathang Khongsai warned that the committee would launch all kinds of agitation in case the Government does not come with a positive response to the demands and translate them into action within the next seven days.

In addition to undertaking democratic modes of agitation, the demands would be placed before the relevant higher authorities.

If necessary, all the Members of the six ADCs would resign enmasse.

Under the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils Act, 1971, the six ADCs were set up in 1972.At that time, Manipur was a Union Territory and the six ADCs were Chandel, Churachandpur, Sadar Hills, Senapati, Tamenglong and Ukhrul.

However, by around 1989, all the ADCs became defunct.

After a long gap of almost 20 years, election to the ADCs were held in 2010 with determined efforts from the State Government.

With the revival of the six ADCs, people of Manipur particularly hill people were hoping that benefits of welfare schemes would reach them directly and development would take place the grassroots level too.

But the existing status of the six ADCs is rather disappointing.

It evokes a serious question as to why the ADCs were revived at the first place.

Since the six ADCs were revived, the Members have been urging for the above stated demands.

A number of memoranda and representations have been submitted to the Government.

But till day, there has been no response, forget about translating them into action, Hemjathang said.

Keeping all these grievances into view, the ADCCCM was formed on September 29 last year.

Then the committee submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister O Ibobi on November 10 last.

The memorandum was demanding more autonomy, separate budget, separate demand heads for the six ADCs, devolution of power for implementation of central sponsored schemes in hill districts and also for 26 different subjects, Hemjathang conveyed.

Elaborating on these demands, convenor of the committee Ngalangzar Malue maintained that all these demands are entitled to the ADCs as per the District Councils Act.

Budget submitted by the ADCs was rejected by the State Government thereby disabling the ADCs from carrying out their statutory functions at the grassroots level.

What the ADCs have been getting are monthly honorarium of Rs 9000 and house rent allowance of Rs 1500 .

Under such circumstances, what is the Government expecting from the ADCs.

On the other hand, many of the ADC Members risked their own life when they contested for the ADC election, Ngalangzar said.

Till today, Central sponsored schemes are being implemented without knowledge and idea of the ADCs.

Chief Minister Ibobi's repeated statements that power has been devolved to ADCs for 26 subjects (departments) have turned out to be just rhetoric.

Ahead of the last Christmas, ADC Members were lobbying with CAF&PD officers to provide them for distribution in their respective constituencies.

At last, one staff of Sangaiprou godown replied that CAF&PD was not included in the last of subjects of which power was devolved to ADCs.

The convenor went on to assert that Manipur can never develop when hill districts are lagging behind in many parameters of development.

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