IMPHAL, April 20: A state cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and held at his cabinet secretariat today at around 2 pm has approved the opening of separate Budget Heads for each ADCs to help empower the Autonomous District Councils (ADC) in the five hill districts of the state.
The cabinet meeting lasted for about two hours.
Addressing media persons after the cabinet meeting, government spokesperson M Okendro Singh said the cabinet had also approved creation of a supernumerary post of Additional Director (PLG) in the Education Department.
He said that the present government had revived the ADCs in the five hill districts of the state during by newly holding the elections which had been pending for more than 20 years.
The state cabinet discussed minutely the devolution of power to the ADCs, one of four agendas.
He continued that as the government has been considering devolution of power, top officials of various linked departments under the state government were made to participate in the thorough discussion.
The discussion approved keeping budget head and sub-head relating to ADCs intact and decided further to create a demand no 14 for ADCs by removing hills from Tribal Affairs and Hills Department to empower ADCs.
Formerly there was demand no. 14 of Tribal Affairs and Hills Department.
Today’s discussion on ADC is not the last and the government will set a deadline for the devolution of powers to the ADCs, he said.
The government is unable to carry out the devolution of power at the moment as it is involved in holding meetings on the plan and finance, he said.
On the other hand, the cabinet meeting also decided today to create the post of Additional Director (PLG) in the Education Department. There was the said post at this department but it has been lying vacant as the person concerned holding the posts have been transferred or retired from service.