Month: April 2022

Statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar unveiled to commemorate CADC Golden Jubilee

Kamalanagar, 30 April, 2022: Dg. Rasik Mohan Chakma, Chief Executive Member, Chakma Autonomous District Council today unveiled the statue of Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar to commemorate the occasion of CADC Golden Jubilee installed in the premises of New CADC Secretariat Complex.

The programme organized by CADC Golden Jubilee Celebration Committee was attended by the Executive Members, MDCs, officers of CADC among others.

While explaining the significance of installing the statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Dg. Rasik Mohan Chakma stated that it was to express gratitude to the man who have provisioned the Sixth Schedule of the constitution of India under which Chakma Autonomous District Council came into being with many other Autonomous District Councils for the tribals inhabiting the many excluded and partially excluded areas of northeast India.

“It is also to inspire suppressed communities like us to struggle in life and rise above to fight back for our rights and dignity. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s life itself is an epitome of struggle of a disadvantaged man to success and fighting for the rights of the suppressed”, he stated while adding, “Our children, the children of a suppressed community shall be inspired by the life of Babasaheb to overcome their disadvantaged condition and rise to secure their rights and of their community”.

He further added, “It is also in recognition of his contribution to the revival of Buddhism in India which have been wiped off for centuries from the land of its origin”.

While recognizing the role of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar for the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India the CEM stated that it would not have been easy for Dr. B.R. Ambedkar alone had it not been for James Joy Mohan Nichols Roy who had persistently pushed for retention of the Sixth Schedule despite vociferous resistant against from many sections in the Constituent Assembly, in the backdrop of proposal for assimilation of the tribals.

It was Dr. B.R. Ambedkar who have drawn a parallel of the tribals of Northeast India with that of American Red Indians to back the provisioning of the Sixth Schedule in the Indian Constitution. The American Red Indians in United States enjoyed autonomy under so called Reservation or Boundaries.

Talking in detail about how the Sixth Schedule found its place in the scheme of the Indian Constitution he stated that the Indian federation basically originated from provinces fully administered by the British, the partially independent princely states and the excluded and partially excluded areas lived by the tribals of Northeast India. The tribals of Northeast India were not Hinduised unlike tribals of mainland India whose life were more or less influenced by Hinduism. The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India was drafted to provide for special administration for the excluded and partially excluded areas.

He termed the installation of the statue one of the most appropriate and significant actions taken by the CADC Golden Jubilee Celebration Committee to mark the golden jubilee of Chakma Autonomous District Council.

Chakma Autonomous District Council celebrates Golden Jubilee

Kamalanagar, 29 April, 2022: Chakma Autonomous District Council today kicked off the celebration of 50 years of CADC’s existence with an inaugural programme organized at Kamalanagar Halipad. Pu Lalrinliana Sailo, Hon’ble Speaker, Mizoram graced the occasion as Chief Guest who arrived from Aizawl this morning accompanied by Pu Lalrinawma, Commissioner & Secretary, Mizoram Legislative Assembly and Pu R. Vanlalsawta, Joint Secretary, District Council & Minority Affairs Department.

Distinguished guests Dg. Rasik Mohan Chakma, CEM, CADC, Dg. Nihar Kanti Chakma, MLA, West Tuipui Assembly Constituency, Dr. Buddha Dhan Chakma, MLA, Tuichawng Assembly Constituency, Dg. Buddhalila Chakma, Chairman, CADC have attended the programme.

The celebration started with chanting of prayers by Bhikkhus and release of gas balloon for peace by the Chief Guest. In tribute candles were lighted before the framed photographs of pioneers of CADC autonomy movement and Dgb. Jyotsna Chakma, Member, CADC Golden Jubilee Celebration Committee offered condolences to all the deceased councilors.

The programme showcased the varied aspects of tradition Jhumma life of the Chakmas performed by the Young Chakma Association and Chakma Mahila Samiti in collaboration with Art & Culture Department, CADC which included the different stages of Jhum cultivation, fishing, spinning of thread from cotton and weaving, dragging of a country boat over a shallow rapid and marriage rituals.

The programme also showcased cultural items presented by Chakma Mahila Samiti, Cheraw dance by residents of Saizawh (W) and traditional dance Dailo by the Bru community.

Pu Lalrinliana Sailo speaking recalled how the venue of the programme, the Kamalanagar Helipad was once not like this but had three hillocks which were flattened to form a flat piece of land in which he took part while urging the three main communities living in CADC to live and mingle in harmony like the three hillocks.

He urged the YCA to work for the progress and development of CADC and to stand guard to check corruption and ensure proper utilization of developmental fund.
He donated Rs.50,000 and Rs.40,000 to the Young Chakma Association and Chakma Mahila Samiti respectively in recognition of their social service.

The CEM, CADC while speaking of the great sacrifice and pain endured by the pioneers of CADC autonomy movement narrated in detail how the leaders like Dg. Kristo Mohan Chakma, Dg. Hari Kristo Chakma, Dg. Gaur Nitai Chakma, Dg. Baneshwar Chakma and Dg. Atul Chandra Chakma maintained a sustained demand for autonomy for the Chakmas of Mizoram through constitutional means by making trip after trip to Shillong and Guwahati despite the wretched condition of the Chakma community then.

“It is our duty that we make ourselves worthy of the great sacrifice made and the legacy left upon us”, he emphasized.

“The Chakma Autonomous District Council has restored partially the Chakmas their right to self-determination which was once enjoyed by them prior to the British subjugating the Chakma king by treachery”, he stated while adding, “None of us should harbour even by a trace that any favour has been done on us by having been granted the autonomy in the form of CADC, as such thinking can take toll upon our morale and dignity”.

He further added, “It is our natural right and all princely states existing during the time of India’s Independence were granted the choice for self-determination”. The programme can be viewed here.

The celebration will continue in the evening with a cultural programme scheduled.

First ever Health Mela organized at Kamalanagar

Kamalanagar, 21 April, 2022: A health mela, the first ever, was organized at Kamalanagar today by National Health Mission, Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Mizoram. The mela is being conducted by the joint effort of doctors and medical staff from Lawngtlai and of Chawngte CHC.

Dg. Rasik Mohan Chakma, Chief Executive Member, Chakma Autonomous District Council graced the occasion as its chief guest.

The Health Mela is a programme of the Central Government which facilitates awareness on health-related issues and provide free medical checkup, treatment and counselling. Today’s mela have arranged stalls for medicine specialist case, general medicine, AYUSH, Non-communicable diseases, dental checkup, eye screening, TB, malaria, Adolescent Mental Health plus ICTC, registration for Health Insurance Scheme, Covid immunization and other routine immunization as well. All diagnostics, treatment and counseling will be provided free of cost.

Speaking in the programme the CEM stated that health mela of this type is very essential especially for CADC area where healthcare facility is scarce and given the poor economic condition of the people.

He urged the public to take full advantage of the mela and make the exercise a great success.

He regretted that people of the area do not pay much interest to the different health care schemes being provided by the government. In this regard he cited the very low response of the people of the area to the Mizoram State Health Care Scheme (MSHCS) and Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) despite effort for awareness of their benefits.

He said that he has known many families which have suffered total economic breakdown due to high cost incurred for medical treatment while adding that had such families availed the benefits of the various health care schemes available, they could have averted such disasters.

He also rued about people still showing preference for traditional medicine over modern medicine in this age of 21st century while stating that traditional medicine though works at times but are bereft of scientific backing.

“Habit of self-medication among the people and not taking the full course prescribed by doctors often results in drug resistant diseases”, he remarked and urged to avoid such harmful practices.

CADC Golden Jubilee emblem unveiled

Kamalanagar, 18 April, 2022: An emblem to commemorate the occasion of Golden Jubilee of Chakma Autonomous District Council was unveiled today in a programme organized by Golden Jubilee Celebration Committee in the CADC Conference Hall, Kamalanagar. CADC will complete 50 glorious years on 29th of this month.

Dg. Rasik Mohan Chakma, Hon’ble CEM, CADC and Chief Guest of the programme, Dg. Buddhalila Chakma, Hon’ble Chairman, CADC and Guest of Honour of the programme, Executive Members, CADC, MDCs, Head of Departments of CADC have attended the programme.

The emblem was designed with the figure 50 written in Chakma script with a torch bearing man running, clad in dhoti, enclosed by the digit five while the zero housed the CADC emblem. The number 50 has been traced with the tri-colours of the CADC flag. The running man symbolizes progress and the torch held by the man symbolizes wisdom.

The Golden Jubilee Emblem in colour and black and white

The CEM announced in the programme that the emblem will be used in all official correspondences throughout the Golden Jubilee year to mark the momentous occasion.

The CEM in his speech asserted that the autonomy being enjoyed due to the existence of Chakma Autonomous District Council is not something endowed upon the Chakmas out of favour while adding that it is just restoration of our right which have been taken away by the British.

He said, “The CADC is a recognition by the Constitution of India that we were once a proud self-governing race with unique system of administration headed by a king who administered through his council of Ministers and bureaucrats – Dewan, Talukdar and so on.”

He also appreciated and expressed gratitude to the pioneers of CADC who had the political awareness and farsightedness as far back as 1950 to persist with their demand for right to self-determination and added, “Chakmas are fortunate to have had such leaders”.

“This moment is not only of joy and celebration but also an opportunity to ponder and asses if we had made the progress, we should have in 50 years”, he added.