Kamalanagar May 18, 2012: A training programme for all the village council Ptresidents and Secretaries of Chakma Autonomous District Council on implementation of the funds under 13th Finance Commission was conducted at Kamalanagar by the Local Administration Department, CADC.

The occasion was graced by Hon’ble Chief Executive Member, CADC as Chief Guest and Hon’ble local MLA, Sri N P Chakma as Guest of Honour.

On the occasion the newly published, “The Chakma Autonomous District Council (Village Councils) (Amendment) Act, 2011” was unveiled and distributed to all the village council presidents.

The amended Act having come to force, will require the Village Councils to strictly observe Section 9(4) of the Act, which underlines that the village council shall be accountable to the Gram Sabha (all registered voters of the village council) for all functions, expenditure, approval of plans and approval of Utilization Certificates while implementing schemes.

The newly amended Act vested the responsibility to conduct elections to the village councils in the State Election Commission, which Sri N P Chakma, Hon’ble MLA hailed as a transformation towards free and fair election. So far the District Council have been carrying out the job.

The Act also provides for the portfolio of Village Council Vice-President and increased the term of the village council to five years from three years.

In keeping with the ethos to politically empower the women, the Act also provides for a reserved seat in the village council for woman.

Mr. K K Tongchangya, Hon’ble CEM remarked, “Going by past track records it has been experienced that Village Council bodies hardly remained stable for long.” He said, “to avoid such crisis it was felt necessary to make the process of no-confidence motion against a Village Council President a little difficult, which we have brought in by this Act.”