IMPHAL, January 5: Demanding devolution of powers and autonomy, members of the 6 different Autonomous District Councils of Manipur have decided to launch various forms of agitations from next week.
Stating this at a press conference at ADC Bhavan at Chingmeirong here this afternoon, Hemjathang Khongsai Secretary of the Autonomous District Council Co-ordination Committee Manipur (ADCCCM) added that the present status of ADC is quite meaningless.
“When it was formed after a gap of 20 years in the year 2010 by conducting a election, the people of the hills were expecting that development will be brought through the district councils from the grass root level but all the expectations have been laid to waste and the Autonomy has not been given to the council members of ADC, ” he said.
Regarding the failure of the state government to give autonomy to the council, members of ADCs on September 29, last year formed a co-ordination committee and submitted a memorandum to state Chief Minister Okram Ibobi on November 12, 2012.
The memorandum also submitted to the MLAs of hill districts urged upon ensuring the autonomy of six ADCs, separate budget and separate Demand Heads for each ADCs, adequate devolution of powers in respect of Central Sponsored Schemes in Hill areas and adequate devolution of powers for 26 subjects.
Speaking to the media Ngalangzar Malue, Convenor of the co-ordination committee said that during the gap of 20 years the state government had announced its commitment to develop infrastructure of 944 primary schools in the hill districts through ADC in the presence of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi when see she visited Imphal but till today, the state government has failed to take up any measure regarding it. Lots of central sponsored schemes are totally exploited by the government in the hill district of the state without going through the ADC members in their respective area he said alleging that the members are kept for namesake and not allowed to take their part in any development work taken up in their respective area.
Foundation stone unveiled for Sadar Hills Autonomous District Council administrative building
Meanwhile, a foundation stone for the Administrative building of the Sadar Hills Autonomous District Council was unveiled today at Kangpokpi.
Speaking at the function, Ngamthang Haokip Minister of IFCD/printing and stationery said that the much awaited fund of Rs 4 crore and 60 lac for the construction of the administrative building has finally been sanctioned by the Government of Manipur. Appealing to all armed organizations and communities of Sadar hills to co-operate for the timely construction of the building, he said that SHADC is a local self government initiative working for the development of all communities of the area. If there is no peace, there is no development,” he added.
Regarding the demand of Sadar hills district, the Minister said that the only thing left now is to inaugurate the district. He said that in 1971, the parliament had approved the creation of the district and during the Reishang Keishing’s reign in 1982, the cabinet decision was taken to finalize the boundary of the Sadarhills district. He added that if there is no unity amongst the communities of sadar hills, the district hood cannot be achieved.
Haokholal Hangshing, Chairman of SHADC who also spoke at the function, thanked the state government for the sanctioned fund for the construction of the administrative building .He said that development at grass root level, socio-economic reformation through democratic govt and social harmony should begin from the local self government and not from the top.”The autonomous district council came into review after the gap of 22 years and therefore the councils need changes according to the changing of times and needs of the public. He requested the Government to implement the devolution of power of the 26 departments which has been passed by the Hill Area District Council amendment act,” he said.