Kuki Students’ Organization, Sadar Hills, Zeliangrong Students Union Manipur, Hmar Students Association, Kuki Students Organisation, Churachandpur, and Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (Tangkhul Students’ Union) condemned the state government for not tabling the Bill in the ongoing assembly session.
TFM Desk
Several student bodies of the state endorsed the 24-hours total shutdown announced by the All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur (ATSUM) in the hill districts of the state from Sunday midnight expressing resentment over the state government’s alleged unwillingness to table the contentious The Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Councils Bill, 2021.
Supporting the total shutdown, The Kuki Students’ Organization Sadar Hills maintained that the Bill proposed to be introduced in the Assembly is in the interest of not only the tribals but also the whole state since it is meant to develop the Hill Areas under the provisions of Article 371C of the Indian Constitution.
KSO Sadar Hills is shocked and wondered at the Government’s attitude and felt betrayed for it once again exposed its majoritarian attitude, well-known for obstructing development in the hill areas, the student body said in a release.
It also stated that KSO Sadar Hills is compelled to question the BJP-led government headed by chief minister N Biren Singh if the state government is really interested in developing the hill areas or is simply giving lip service from time to time to gain political mileage.
It also reminded the state government that constantly obstructing the development of the hill areas, which is 90 per cent of the state geographical boundary, will further divide the hill and valley, which the present dispensation is claiming to have bridged while adding that if the government continue to oppose development in the hill Areas, slogans such as “Chingmi tammi amatani” (people of hills and valley are one) hold no water.
It is a well-known fact that a large majority of the seats in the state’s legislative assembly are occupied by the dominant Meitei community, and as such, the Cabinet is also always in their control, it added.
While appealing to all the transport associations, including owners of private vehicles, and the general public to extend cooperation during the said Bandh as it will be strictly enforced within the jurisdiction of the organisation, KSO Sadar Hills cautioned that any untoward incidents out of failure to comply with and in case of violating the bandh will be the sole responsibility of the violators and the state government.
On the other hand, The Zeliangrong Students Union Manipur (ZSUM) said it fully endorsed the proposed 24 hours shutdown.
The ZSUM appealed to all the right thinking citizens of Zeliangrong to extend cooperation throughout the agitation for the cause of the tribal people.
The Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (Tangkhul Students’ Union), in a release, said it took serious cognizance of the refusal of the Manipur government to table the HAC recommended bill in the ongoing assembly session.
“This has challenged the rights of the people of the hills as per the Constitution Article 371C”.
The student body also appealed to all the public for maximum cooperation.
The Hmar Students Association (HSA) condemned the Government of Manipur for not considering The Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Councils Bill, 2021.
Endorsing the total shutdown, HSA asked every member of the Hmar community to show their support for the total shutdown by refusing to open shops and places of business for that period. Transportation to the airport will be allowed from 6:00 am to 8:00 am and from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm, it added.
Meanwhile, condemning the lackadaisical attitude of the Government of Manipur for non tabling of Hill Areas Committee (HAC) recommended Bill which has been presented to the state government to consider, discuss on the floor of the Manipur Legislative Assembly and pass as an Act in the ongoing session of the Assembly, the Kuki Students Organisation, Churachandpur, to ensure the Bill translates into action, resolved to fully endorse the proposed 24-hour shutdown.
The state government’s returning the ADC Bill 2021 and not tabling it in its ongoing assembly session and also perversely and adamantly giving irrational statements itself is an insult and denial of the rights of the hill people enshrined in Article 371C of the Constitution of India, the student body said in a release.
“The Bill is definitely a Constitutional provision enshrined under Article 371 C, however the state government just interpreted it into ethnic communal tone favoring the majority valley community’s sentiment unethically”.
Only media, medical and emergency services will be exempted from the purview of the proposed shutdown. Picking and dropping of air travelers with valid air tickets will be relaxed between 6:00 am to 8:00 am in the morning and 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm in the evening. Outside of the given time no vehicles going to the airport will be exempted from the purview of the shutdown, it added.
The Bill
The Hill Areas Committee, Manipur Legislative Assembly, in its meeting held on August 16, 2021, unanimously adopted the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council Bill, 2021.
The new Bill seeks more autonomy to the Hills Areas Committee and the Autonomous District Councils with regard to administration and management of hill areas of Manipur.
As per the draft bill, Article 371C of the Constitution of India read with the Manipur Legislative Assembly (Hill Areas Committee) Order, 1972 provides for a separate scheme for the administration of the hill areas in the State of Manipur through Hill Areas Committee and District Councils. The Hill Areas Committee and the District Councils for the Autonomous Districts are vested with legislative powers on specified subject and are allotted certain sources of taxation.
They have also been given powers to manage their resources, public health and sanitation services, primary education and undertake administrative and welfare services including development and economic planning, it said. In order to give effect to said provisions the parliament enacted the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils Act, 1971. Notably this 1971 Act was enacted by the Parliament since at the relevant time Manipur was a Union Territory and still is effective after more than 50 years of the creation of the State of Manipur, it added.
Elaborating the objectives and reasons for bringing in the new legislation, the draft bill said since 1971 there were several amendments to the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act. However, a review of the provisions of the 1971 Act indicated deficiencies which resulted in disproportionate development between the areas of the hills and valley of Manipur over the years.
The Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council Bill, 2021 seeks to repeal and replace the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 1971 in order to provide more autonomy to the Hill Area Committee and the District Councils (now referred as Autonomous District Council as they relate to Autonomous Districts) as envisaged under Article 371C of the Constitution of India read with the Manipur Legislative Assembly (Hill Areas Committee) Order, 1972.
Salient features of the Bill
a. More autonomy to the Hill Areas Committee and the Autonomous District Councils with regard to administration and management of Hill Areas of the State of Manipur.
b. Provisions to take into consideration the current ground realities in the Hill Areas of the State of Manipur including increasing the number of constituencies of the Autonomous District Council to 31 out of which 3 members to be nominated, Further, in the delimitation process of the 28 constituencies, 3/4th of the seats shall be allocated as per population representation of the areas covered under the Autonomous District and 1/4th of the seats shall be reserved for socio-economically backward areas and need based special geographical areas within the respective Autonomous District.
c. Creation of Hill Areas Secretariat for (i) Managing and coordinating the working of the all the Autonomous District Councils; (ii) Reviewing and monitoring all the projects and programs undertaken by each Autonomous District Council; and (iii) Coordinate and manage the budgetary allocation as per department or area-wise requirement for the Hill Areas of Manipur
d. Providing first and second appeal with regard to the adjudication of election petition under the Bill
e. Creation of an Executive Committee under the Autonomous District Councils which shall act as a cabinet of the Autonomous District Council. The Executive Committee shall have members not exceeding seven.
f. Bringing in Hill House Tax within the purview of the Autonomous District Council
g. More effective and active involvement of Hill Areas Committee in development and economic planning including budget planning and allocations for the entire Hill Areas for the State of Manipur.