'Strengthening ADCs will bring down unrest & chaos in hill areas'
After their ten-day campaign in New Delhi for the devolution of powers to the six ADCs of Manipur, the members returned to Manipur today. Several ADC members had arrived in New Delhi on August 27 and met Central leaders including the President of India. They also staged sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar on September 5.
ADC member from Churachandpur, H Mangchinkhup informed that Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh assured the ADC members he would look into the matter and address it at the earliest. The ADC members also met DoNER Minister General (Rtd) VK Singh, who said he would collect all the relevant documents on the ADC of Manipur and address the matter after a thorough study. Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju had reportedly told the members that the devolution of powers to the ADCs in Manipur is a must and assured them his utmost service on the issue.
The ADC members alleged that successive governments, both in the State and Centre, have denied them their rights and powers under the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 1971. This led to a boycott call and for 20 years, the ADCs were nonfunctioning in Manipur hill areas.
In 2010, election to ADCs was held under the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council, Third Amendment Act 2008. "But to our utter dismay even as we complete four years we see no change and are denied of powers bestowed under the said Act. According to the new Act, there were 26 (twenty six) subjects enlisted under Section 29 in sub-section (1) of the principal Act," the ADC members stated.
According to them, the existing 6 ADCs, i.e., Churachandpur, Chandel, Sadar Hills, Senapati, Ukhrul and Tamenglong were installed in the year 1973 in pursuance of the North Eastern Reorganization Act, 1971 and later passed as Parliamentary Act called ‘The Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 1971’. "However, due to non devolution of the powers and functions under the said Acts and Rules, the ADC Elections was withheld since 1989 in demand for extending the provisions of the Sixth Scheduled Provision of the Indian Constitution to these ADCs."
The ADC members further said that three successive State governments had adopted resolutions for 6th schedule implementation based on the recommendation of the Hill Areas Committee (HAC) Manipur. However, the issue was kept in abeyance by the State Government despite repeated reminders by the Central Government.
Reiterating their demand for implementation of Extension of Sixth Scheduled Provision of the Constitution to all the 6 ADCs, the members lamented that the hill areas of Manipur is the only tribal areas in North East India “which is ignored, unattended and unjustly left out from extension of the Sixth Schedule Provision of the Constitution of India.”
Several memorandums have been submitted to the State as well as to the Central Govt. to “redress our grievances, unfortunately all these prayer have so far remained unnoticed," the members stated. "We feel proud to be part of the Indian democracy system, but it pained our heart to experience alienation, discrimination, deprivation, and subjugation.”
Source: Morung Express
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