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: CHT Accord Implementation Committee reconstituted

File photo of the signing of Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord of 1997.

Dhaka, 20 January, 2025: The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Accord Implementation and Monitoring Committee has been reconstituted in accordance with Section 3 of Part ‘A’ of the CHT Accord signed in 1997. This committee has been reconstituted through a gazette notification signed by Mohammad Nahid Islam, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of CHT Affairs, on 12 January 2025.

Md. Touhid Hossain, the foreign affairs advisor of the Interim Government, has been appointed as the convener of the committee. The other two ex-officio members of the three-member Accord Implementation and Monitoring Committee are Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, president of the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS), and Sudatta Chakma, chairman of the Task Force on the Rehabilitation of India-returnee Tribal Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons.

It is to be noted that the scope of work of the CHT Accord Implementation and Monitoring Committee are– To monitor and supervise the implementation process of the CHT Accord; To coordinate the activities of all ministries and departments including all subordinate government, semi-government, autonomous organizations and authorities related to the implementation process of this Accord, and to provide necessary advice/instructions; To take necessary measures to resolve problems related to the implementation of this Accord and to provide recommendations to the government if necessary; To supervise activities related to the repatriation and rehabilitation of refugees; To supervise activities related to the rehabilitation of internally displaced persons.

This gazette notification states that all ministries/departments will comply with the decisions and instructions of the Accord Implementation Committee and will take necessary measures accordingly.

Chakma girl bags silver in 12th South Asian Games 2016

Dangubi Fullapati Chakma

Guwahati 7 Feb, 2016: On the second day of competitions in Guwahati on Sunday, female weightlifter Dangubi Fullapati Chakma from Bangladesh won a silver medal in the 58kg category by lifting a total of 144kg -- 63kg in snatch and 81kg in clean and jerk. 

The 21-year-old weightlifter hails from Rangamati town in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), Bangladsh. 

Political Map of Chakma Autonomous District Council (Chakmaland), Mizoram, Northeast India

Chakmaland, officially recognised as Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC), an autonomous district council for Chakma people in Mizoram, India.


                                                   India Map showing Mizoram State

Mizoram District Map

Mizoram District Map & ADC Map and Road Map showing location and road connectivity

                    

Mizoram Administrative Division Map

Source: http://mizorural.nic.in/

Area showing Chakma concentration in Mizoram

Outline Map of Chakma Autonomous District Council

Map of Chawngte Rural Development (RD) Block

Source: http://mizorural.nic.in/

Political Map of Chakma Autonomous District Council, Mizoram, India

Source: cadc.gov.in

Political Map of Chakma Autonomous District Council (aka Chakmaland), Mizoram, Northeast India.

All the photos given above except original map of Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC) are compiled and re-edited by chakmaland.blogspot.com from different sources including CADC official website: cadc.gov.in.