Activities

CADC Condemns MCDF’s Propaganada Campaign

Kamalanagar,  August 9: Chakma Autonomous District Council condemns the propaganda campaign unleashed by Mizoram Chakma Development Forum, that is so unfounded, with regards to non-functional PHC at Borapansury. There is enough indication that MCDF may have sold its soul to vested interest for orchestrating this publicity campaign to tarnish the image of CADC despite knowing CADC’s sincere effort with the project.

The present Executive Committee since assuming office in 2008 has been nurturing the hope to provide health care facility to the people of Thega Valley of CADC. It was in the year 2010-2011 the authorities of CADC managed to arrange for fund provision under NRHM and BRGF to create infrastructures to give shape to this vision, dreamt for the people of this locality, by setting up of one flagship building and five quarters for medical staff. CADC government is not sitting idle, caressing these buildings and basking over this achievement but have been working day and night to carry on this vision forward and further. CADC is well aware that the job is not yet complete and hence, has been trying various permutation and combination. Presently, it is under consultation with the Directorate of Health Services, Government of Mizoram to give this project a life under PPP model on the basis of shared fund contribution. Why PPP model? PPP model involves participation of more than one stakeholder and hence, can ensure better service. If the Govt. of Mizoram is convinced, CADC ought to be ready with its share of fund under the model and hence, in anticipation CADC already prepared itself with fund provision to the tune of about Rs.50.00 lakhs under BRGF. This speaks volume of CADC’s sincere intention.

Whereas, instead of appreciating the sincere effort that CADC has put in, so far, to operationalize the PHC, starting with setting up of the required infrastructures, MCDF has been misguiding the public through campaign in the electronic and print media and by distributing leaflets. Had the fund so sanctioned, so far, been not utilized towards the cause, CADC would have welcomed their concern.

MCDF alleging that the CEM, CADC is against operationalization of PHC, Borapansury premised on the ground that contributions collected from SSA teachers, through official deduction, towards MCDF fund have been blocked by him, is not wholly true. The CEM, CADC intervened after receiving complaint from staff about the donation being made through official deduction. The CEM, CADC has acted upon to avoid setting a precedent of making private collection through official deduction. The CEM, CADC made his stand clear on the issue that he has no objection against any individual making donation towards the cause launched by MCDF.

CADC’s Budget 2012-2013 Passed

Kamalanagar, August 2: Chakma Autonomous District Council’s Regular Budget 2012-13 placed in the first sitting of this Monsoon Session has been discussed and passed unanimously today in its fourth and final sitting.

 

The budget allocation for the current financial year has been earmarked at Rs.2858.00 lakhs under Non-plan, Rs.45.00 lakhs under Centrally Sponsored Schemes and Rs.3487.00 lakhs under plan sector. There has been a jump in fund allocation under plan sector by more than triple with reference to that of previous financial year. The enormous increase is attributable to allocation made under RKVY at Rs.700.00 lakhs, under TFC at Rs.266.00 lakhs, under Minor Irrigation (AIBP) at Rs.700.00 lakhs, under State Priority Project at Rs.150.00 lakhs and under SCA for clearance of pending liabilities at Rs.400.00 lakhs. Therefore, the actual normal Annual Plan Fund for this year stands at Rs.1271.00 lakhs of which Rs.1062.58 laks is earmarked for salary. The rest of the amount is allotted for Administrative costs and Minor Works.

In his budget speech the Chief Executive Member asserted for a robust Local Revenue target of Rs.98.70 lakhs and sought the cooperation of all the concerned officials of CADC to achieve the target.

The budget also reflected a deficit of Rs.888.38 lakhs against salary/arrear, Rs.44.31 lakhs against salary and Rs.24.06 under non-plan sector, plan sector and under NLCPR respectively. The CEM, CADC expressed his hope to cover up the deficit under plan and non-plan sector by means of additional allocation in the form of Supplementary Grant in due course of time against which Govt. of Mizoram has already been informed.

The opposition expressed their reservation about the budget being burdened by a huge deficit.  They were also concern regarding many of the Departments not being given any allocation in the Budget.

The Hon’ble Chief Executive Member Sri Kali Kumar Tongchangya and mover of the Budget, while taking on the concern of the opposition said that the Council’s fund position being extremely tight, the Executive Committee have taken up to make fund provision to those Departments without allocation, through centrally sponsored projects. He informed the House that a project at an estimated cost of Rs.4.98 crores is being pursued with NEC to create a state of the art sport complex at Kamalanagar. “In collaboration with the State PHE Department a greater water supply scheme, tapping the Chawngte Lui,  for Chawngte area is being aggressively pursued and is under process”, he said .

The CEM hailed this budget as people welfare budget as Rs.14.00 crores have been dedicated to boost agricultural productivity, given the fact that more 90% of CADC’s population is agriculture dependent.

CADC Session On Day-3

Kamalanagar, August 01:  Chakma Autonomous District Council Monsoon Session continued into its Day-3.

The day has seen the laying of Gazette notified Rules of “The Chakma Autonomous District Council (Constitution, Conduct of Business etc.) (Amendment) Rules, 2011” and “The Chakma Autonomous District Council (Village Councils) (Amendment) Act, 2011”.

 

Shri Purna Muni Chakma, Deputy Chairman, CADC and Chairman of the Audit Committee to review the Report of C&AG of India for the financial years 2005-2006, 2006-2007, 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 in respect of Chakma Autonomous District Council, placed his Report before the house for discussion. The Report of C&AG of India stated the absence of internal audit mechanism in CADC, although Rule 144 of the Mizoram Autonomous District Council Fund Rules, 1996 requires the CADC to introduce a suitable system for internal audit within the Council with approval of the Governor and in consultation with the State Accountant General.  While accepting the statement, the Report of the Audit Committee, CADC urged the Executive Committee, CADC to undertake necessary action to introduce appropriate internal control mechanism and internal audit to ensure prudent financial management, checks on financial irregularities and to provide assurance to the management about the protection of assets and reliability of information.

The Report of the C&AG of India also stated about the engagement of huge number of staff by CADC without the existence of approved staffing pattern. The report laid by the Audit Committee, CADC while accepting the fact of the absence of any staffing pattern, stated that the Executive Committee, CADC has already acted upon the anomaly and submitted the Staffing Pattern of the District Council for approval of the State Government early this year.

The Session was adjourned till tomorrow after the Report of the Audit Committee, CADC got passed unanimously.

 

CADC Budget Session – Day-2

Kamalanagar, July 31:Chakma Autonomous District Council’s Monsoon Session continued into its second day. The day was devoted to a single agenda of moving the bill of Chakma Autonomous District Council (Constitution and Conduct of Business, etc.,) (Amendment) Rules, 2012.

 

Earlier, in the Summer Session the same amendment bill was moved by the Hon’ble Chief Executive Member, CADC for consideration in the House. It was then felt after prolong discussion, that it should be referred to a three member Select Committee for further study and accordingly a Committee was formed for the purpose, comprising of members from both the political groups.

As scheduled the report of the Select Committee was tabled on the floor of the House for consideration. Almost all the recommendations of the Select Committee were agreed upon save an amendment pertaining to Rule 12(5)(a) seeking to remove the provision of disqualification of a member of District Council on the ground of defection from the mother political party. Finally the bill was passed on majority vote excluding the contentious portion.

If the bill gets the assent of His Excellency, the Governor of Mizoram the superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of Electoral rolls for, and the conduct of Election to the District Council shall get vested in the State Election Commission. So far, since 1972, elections to the District Council were executed in the name of the Governor and the State Election Commission has had no roles.

The bill also seeks to introduce the use of electronic voting machine from the next MDC general Election by replacing the age old mode of ballot paper system of voting. By ushering in the use of technology in the electioneering process many of the election related discrepancies and disputes which are incidental to the process, shall be taken care of. It will ensure a freer and fair election in the District Council from now onwards.

CADC rebutts CDMNF allegations

Kamalanagar, June 12, 2012: The propaganda and allegation unleashed by CDMNF against the CADC authority, on the issue relating to the office order, requiring all pass holders within CADC area to submit their land passes within 15 days for rectification/correction of some words in the land passes issued so far since the creation of CADC, which was published in the English daily of Newslink, Aizawl in its Issue dated 12/6/2012 under the caption, “MNF smells rat in CADC land reform”, is absolutely baseless and uncalled for.

The motive behind issue of such an order is not to create public unrest and unnecessary harassment and it has in no way any connection with the order issued during 2009 as alleged by CDMNF. Rather, it has been done with the sole motive to streamline and to bring transparency/efficiency in the administration of Land Revenue Department by updating the Land records as per existing rules which were amended from time to time.

In this connection, it may be mentioned here that the land passes so far issued, were done with reference to CADC (Agriculture-Land) Act 1983 or CADC (Agriculture-Land) Act 1993, whereas no such Act exist in CADC, thereby creating ambiguity about the genuineness of the passes. In fact, CADC’s Act read as CADC (Agriculture-Land) Act 1982. Besides, the paper quality of the passes issued since 1972 are very ordinary. Consequently, the passes after being used for a long time become indecipherable, requiring replacement by new passes in conformity with the existing Land Revenue Act as amended from time to time.

A huge amount was sanctioned under the Union Ministry of Rural Development, during the tenure of former Executive Committee headed by Sri Rasik Mohan Chakma, for overhauling of the Land Revenue Department of CADC. However, the fund so sanctioned was not properly utilized, inviting audit objection from the Comptroller & Auditor General of India during 2005 and as a result, spawning various land disputes around CADC and thereby, creating huge backlog which has led to crippling the administration of the Land Revenue Department and hence the need for immediate settlement by issue of new passes after proper survey for the greater public interest.

This exercise, rather than harassing the public, will address the problem of i) identifying fake passes ii) issuance of computerized passes in new format in conformity with the existing rules iii) reflecting the new rate of land revenue tax as revised from time to time iv) digitalization of land revenue records v) proper cataloguing of land revenue passes vi) renewal of passes and vii) realization of land revenue taxes from the defaulting pass holder.

It is hoped that the general public instead of being harassed will derive benefit from the exercise taken up by the CADC authority and the above fact unambiguously prove that the propaganda propagated by the CDMNF is nothing but to misguide the general public for gaining political mileage with an eye on the coming general election.

Green Mizoram Week celebrated at CADC

Kamalanagar, June 11, 2012: Chakma Autonomous District Council set out to celebrate Mizoram Green Week starting from today till 16th June, under the aegis of Forest & Environment Department, CADC.

The celebration of the Green Mizoram Week was launched through a programme which was attended by the student and teacher communities of different schools of Kamalanagar and its adjacent areas.

The District Council Conservator of Forest, CADC in his speech announced to take up road side plantation along the Kamalanagar-Bajeisora Road. He also urged all the schools around Kamalanagar town area to participate in the celebration of the week by joining in planting trees at least around their respective school compound. He expressed his commitment to provide seedlings to all enthusiastic participants throughout the week.

The Hon’ble Chief Executive Member, CADC Sri Kali Kumar Tongchangya, while addressing the gathering at the programme, urged the teaching community to catch the coming generation young, while their minds are still impressionable, to get the message of the importance of a green world to our survival.

 

Training on Implementation 13th Finance Commission at Kamalanagar

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.”

NLUP Received At Kamalanagar

Kamalanagar, 11 May 2012: NLUP beneficiaries of Kamalanagar, Baraponsury and Chawngte-P centres, with trade selection under Horticulture Department received their 3rd Installment at Kamalanagar.

The ocassion was graced by the Hon’ble local MLA Sri Nirupam Chakma as Chief Guest.

As many as 523 Horti farmers received their assistance in cash, out of which 440 families were from CADC. Earlier under the 1st and the 2nd Installments each of the beneficiaries got Rs.40,000, Rs.20,000 on each ocassion. This time the 3rd Installment was fixed at Rs.30,000 for each beneficiary.

36th YCA Conference held at Kamalanagar

Kamalanagar April 3: The 3-Day long, 36th Young Chakma Association Annual Conference started today at Kamalanagar, headquarter of Chakma Autonomous District Council on the theme “Aforestation and Health & Sanitation”.

Pu P C Zoramsangliana, Hon’ble Minister, Art & Culture, Mizoram graced the occasion as Chief Guest. He arrived Kamalanagar a day earlier along with his family amidst warm welcome. He and his wife were honoured with Chakma traditional attire and made them wear through out the occasion. He appreciated the YCA about all the welfare activities taken up by them as reflected in their annual report, especially about the agenda of the conference on “Aforestation and Health & sanitation”, which finds so much relevence in the context of the crisis of Global warming. He also made the point that the Chakmas as a community seem to be much more culturally ahead than any other community in Mizoram with the advantage of being proficient in multiple languages. However, he also urged the Chakmas to take interest in learning the Mizo language as well. He assured the people that the area would not suffer from power supply shortage if the many Hydro projects taken up by the Governement get ready for operation. He said, “The CADC Cultural Hall cum Museum, bigger in capacity than the Vanappa Hall of Aizawl, coming up in the heart of Kamalanagar town, once completed a multi-cultural programme with the Lai, Mara, Chakma and Mizos shall be hosted.”

Hundreds of YCA delegates and volunteers representing more than 100 branches under 8 Zones within different administrative districts of Mizoram and one Regional YCA Committee from the state of Tripura assembled here in the conference. The Association has a membership strength of of about 42,000. It was founded in the year 1976 with the primary of objectives of rendering voluntary social service to its people and society.

The Annual Report of the Association as placed in the conference proclaimed its achievement in its fight against age old social evils ingrained in the society, in its effort to introduce the learning of the Chakma Language up to Elementary level in the the schools of Chakma inhabited areas of Mizoram outside CADC, in succesfully organising blood donation camps, in taking initiative with the State Government to set up State Minority Commission, in monitoring schemes under SSA, in creating awareness to conserve the environment and in expanding the organisational roots of the YCA.

The Mizo Idol Pu Lalthuta, accompanying the Minister performed a few Mizo hits, sending the audience rocking and lightinng up the occassion.

CADC’s Interim Budget resumed and concluded

Kamalanagar, April 2: The Chakma Autonomous District Council’s Interim Budget Session 2012-13 resumed today with the Second sitting of the Summer Session of the 8th Chakma Autonomous District Council.

The Question Hour discussed 16 numbers of unstarred questions and 4 numbers of starred questions.

The Interim Budget Estimate with allocation for fund amounting to Rs.470.00 Lakhs under Plan sector and Rs.953.00 lakhs under Non-Plan sector for the period April to July placed on Friday last, for vote on account, was discussed and debated for long.

The leader of the opposition Sri Rashik Mohan Chakma termed the Budget as anti-people.

The Budget has reflected a fund provision amounting to Rs.11.00 Crores under Centrally Sponsored Scheme for construction of new Secretariat Complex and Session Hall. It also made fund allocation to the tune of Rs.0.50 Crore towards the welfare of the economically downtrodden families. The first time Driving School started last year to generate employment opportunities for the unemployed youth, having been found to be drawing hordes of enthusiastic applicants, the budget kept fund provision to meet its increasing demand.

The Budget finally got passed unanimously with the support from the opposition bench as well.

In the evening session of the sitting an official Amendment Bill was moved by the Hon’ble Chief Executive Member for introducing use of EVM Machine in all future elections to the District Council in order to modernise the polling system and ensure free and fair election. However, after discussion it was felt that the Bill needs further study and accordingly the mover of the Bill proposed to forward it to a Select Committee to be reintroduced in the next Session, which was approved by the Chairman.