CADC seeks enhanced fund allocation from 16th Finance Commission for infrastructural development

 Kamalanagar, 26th February 2025: A delegation from the Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC) led by Hon’ble Chief Executive Member Dg. Molin Kumar Chakma met with Dr. Arvind Panagariya, Chairman, and other members of the 16th Finance Commission in Aizawl on Monday during its four-day visit to Mizoram. The delegation, which included Hon’ble MLA Dg. Rasik Mohan Chakma, Senior Finance & Accounts Officer Dg. Buddhangkur Chakma, and Planning & Development Officer Dg. Prabin Chakma, submitted a representation seeking enhanced financial allocation to bridge the infrastructural deficit within CADC.

During the meeting, the delegation gave a detailed presentation on the socio-economic challenges faced by CADC, citing its backwardness including lower literacy rate and inadequate infrastructure. It was pointed out that despite being categorised as an “Excluded Area” and outside the purview of Part IX and Part IXA of the Constitution, CADC has been receiving funds under two categories—Rural Local Body Grants to Village Councils and Excluded Area Grants. However, the delegation emphasized that the inconsistency and irregularity in the Excluded Area Grants have hampered the implementation of major infrastructure projects, particularly those related to administrative development.

The delegation urged the Finance Commission to continue providing Excluded Area Grants on a regular basis to address the infrastructural deficit until corrective legislative measures are undertaken by the Government of India to enhance the financial resources of Autonomous District Councils. It was further emphasised that ADCs and Tribal Areas under the Sixth Schedule should receive special consideration while determining grants under the Central Finance Commission, given their unique socio-economic challenges.

The representation also underscored the need for special financial provisions under Article 275(1) of the Indian Constitution to raise the level of administration in Sixth Schedule Areas. Drawing parallels to the separate treatment accorded to the Sixth Schedule Areas in Assam under clause (a) of Article 275(1), the delegation argued that similar treatment should be extended to ADCs in Mizoram to ensure equitable development. They pointed out that despite the Finance Commission’s approach of treating ADCs as two tiers Local Body Institutions —with Autonomous District Council as Zilla Panchayat and Village Councils as Gram panchayats—CADC has not received any share of grants allocated to Zilla Panchayats during the entire period of the 15th Finance Commission. They also urged the Commission to recommend for additional fund provision for CADC, in addition to the normal grants under the Excluded Area Grants, to address specific problems, as was done under the 13th Finance Commission.

Some of the projects proposed under the 16th Finance Commission include the completion of the New Secretariat Building at Kamalanagar, the construction of the Chief Executive Member’s Office Building, the establishment of Village Council Court Buildings, construction of Electric Crematorium and an ITI Building, construction of MDC Hostels and Court Buildings, among others.

Dg. Molin Kumar Chakma takes oath as CEM of Chakma ADC

Kamalanagar, 4 January 2025: Dg. Molin Kumar Chakma was sworn in today as the Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the 11th Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC) in a ceremony held at Kamalanagar. Pu Zoramsiama Hmar, MCS, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Lawngtlai, administered the oath of office and secrecy to him.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, including Dg. Rasik Mohan Chakma, MLA, 36-Tuichawng Constituency; Puhpa K. Hrahmo, MLA, 40-Palak Constituency; Puhpa M. Laikaw, Chief Executive Member, MADC; Puhpa N. Viakhu, Chairman, MADC; Dg. Mohan Chakma, Chairman, CADC; Shri Devesh Kumar, Prabhari of Mizoram BJP; MDCs, and other senior officials of CADC.

In his maiden speech as the CEM, Dg. Molin Kumar Chakma described the event as an auspicious beginning of a new Executive Committee under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in CADC. He called upon all political parties, NGOs, and intellectuals of the area to lend their support to his Executive Committee for the smooth running and progress of administration.

He announced the names of Dg. Kalasoga Chakma, Dg. Supan Chakma, Dg. Montu Chakma, Dg. Amit Bayan Chakma, and Dg. Ananta Bikash Chakma as members in his Executive Committee. He stated further that the allocation of other portfolios in the Executive Committee would be announced in due course. In conclusion, he expressed optimism that with the support of Shri Devesh Kumar, BJP Prabhari, Mizoram, and Dg. Nirupam Chakma, Member, NCST, CADC would receive assistance from the central government for its development.

Dg. Molin Kumar Chakma’s appointment as CEM followed a political reshuffle necessitated by a no-confidence motion against the former CEM, Dg. Rasik Mohan Chakma, during the first sitting of the Winter Session on 11th December 2024, which led to the dissolution of the Executive Committee. Subsequently, on 28th January, 2025, the Hon’ble Governor of Mizoram appointed Dg. Molin Kumar Chakma as the Chief Executive Member of CADC.

Dg. Molin Kumar Chakma was elected as an MDC from the 4-Bajeisora Constituency during the 2023 CADC general elections on a BJP ticket. He later joined the Mizo National Front (MNF). In the previous Executive Committee, he held the posts of Adviser to CEM and subsequently, the post of Vice-Chairman of Planning & Development Board, CADC. Prior to his entry in politics, he was actively engaged in social work, through his involvement in Guwahati Chakma Students’ Union (GCSU) and the Central Young Chakma Association (CYCA).

Centre may take up bill to amend Article 280; empowering ADCs

The move is likely to see devolution of taxes to a third tier of government - autonomous councils for tribals, which operate under the sixth schedule of the Constitution.

New Delhi: The Union government is expected to take up The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Fifth Amendment) Bill, 2019, that seeks to include autonomous councils in the ambit of the Finance Commission, which divides taxes between the Centre and states, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told HT on Tuesday.

A standing committee of Parliament had already looked into the Bill, the BJP leader said. Following this a federal panel under the home ministry was also formed to look into the matter.

The move is likely to see devolution of taxes to a third tier of government — autonomous councils for tribals, which operate under the sixth schedule of the Constitution.

“This proposal is there. In our context, we fully support the demand of the autonomous Councils for devolution of taxes. Discussion on The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Fifth Amendment) Bill by the standing committee is already over. The government of India is in the process of bringing the amendment. We are hopeful we’ll see something positive in the coming Budget session of Parliament,” the chief minister said.

Sarma is slated to campaign for his party in the ensuing Delhi polls on Wednesday.

The bill was introduced in Rajya Sabha by the Union government in 2019. It amends provisions related to the Finance Commission and the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

The Bodoland Territorial Council, an autonomous authority in Assam’s Bodo tribal areas, has demanded inclusion of these self-governing council in tribal areas in Article 280 of the Constitution, which governs the Finance Commissions.

The Bodoland Territorial council is an autonomous administrative authority in Assam’s Bodo tribal areas comprising five districts.

The council this month saw the completion of five years of the 2020 Bodo peace accord signed between the Centre, the Bodos and the Assam government to devolve more powers, financial and administrative, to tribal authorities under the federal structure of the Constitution.

Before the accord, the Bodo areas had seen a long period of insurgency and instability. Peace has returned to the region after the 2020 agreement.

Currently, there are 10 Autonomous District Councils in the north-eastern states of India. These are:

Assam: Bodoland Territorial Council, Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council and Dima Hasao Autonomous District Council.

Meghalaya: Garo Hills Autonomous District Council, Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council and Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council.

Tripura: Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council.

Mizoram: Chakma Autonomous District Council, Lai Autonomous District Council and Mara Autonomous District Council.

The Constitution, through Article 280 to 281, provides for finance commissions, set up every five years to arrive at a mechanism for division of taxes and revenues vertically i.e. between the Centre and states, and horizontally, i.e. among all states, based on their levels of development, prosperity and regional needs.

All previous Finance Commissions have incrementally increased states’ share in the pool of taxes. The 14th Finance Commission recommended a quantum leap, increasing states’ share by 10 percentage points to 42%. One of the preceding 15th Finance Commission’s mandate was to review the 14th Finance Commission’s recommendations. In the interim report for 2020-21, states’ share was cut to 41% because of the creation of new Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Bangladesh recognises CHT as ‘foreign affairs issue'

Chakma body welcomes move, says it is a historic shift

New Delhi: Jan 15, 2025: The interim government of Bangladesh has recognised the  Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHTs) region as a “foreign affairs issue”.

The government also notified reconstitution of the CHT Accord Implementation & Monitoring Committee with Foreign Affairs Advisor Touhid Hussain as the Convenor and Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, President of the Jana Samhati Samiti (JSS) and Suddatta Chakmna, Chairman of the Task Force for Rehabilitation and Resettlement of the Returnee Refugees from India.

The Chakma Development Foundation of India (CDFI) on Wednesday welcomed this move.

In 1997, the Chittagong Hill Tracts Accord was signed between insurgent JSS and Bangladesh Army to bring peace to the region.

“This historic shift of the Government of Bangladesh to recognise the Chittagong Hill Tracts as a subject matter of foreign affairs is welcome. The Chittagong Hill Tracts despite having 98.5% non-Muslim populations was awarded to Pakistan in violations of the letter and spirit of the Indian Independence Act of 1947 under which two dominions for Muslims and non-Muslims were created out of British India. The indigenous people of the CHTs had raised Indian flags on 15th August 1947 before being illegally awarded to Pakistan on August 17, 1947,” said Suhas Chakma, founder of the CDFI.

The successive governments of Bangladesh have not taken any measures to implement the CHTs Accord of 1997. The military camps have not been withdrawn, the lands illegally occupied by the illegal plain settlers were not returned, refugees have not been properly rehabilitated and resettled, and no elections to the CHTs Regional Council and three Hill Districts of the Chittagong Hill Tracts has been held as on date, the CDFI said in a statement.