Kamalanagar, 26th February 2025: A delegation from the Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC) led by Hon’ble Chief Executive Member Dg. Molin Kumar Chakma met with Dr. Arvind Panagariya, Chairman, and other members of the 16th Finance Commission in Aizawl on Monday during its four-day visit to Mizoram. The delegation, which included Hon’ble MLA Dg. Rasik Mohan Chakma, Senior Finance & Accounts Officer Dg. Buddhangkur Chakma, and Planning & Development Officer Dg. Prabin Chakma, submitted a representation seeking enhanced financial allocation to bridge the infrastructural deficit within CADC.

During the meeting, the delegation gave a detailed presentation on the socio-economic challenges faced by CADC, citing its backwardness including lower literacy rate and inadequate infrastructure. It was pointed out that despite being categorised as an “Excluded Area” and outside the purview of Part IX and Part IXA of the Constitution, CADC has been receiving funds under two categories—Rural Local Body Grants to Village Councils and Excluded Area Grants. However, the delegation emphasized that the inconsistency and irregularity in the Excluded Area Grants have hampered the implementation of major infrastructure projects, particularly those related to administrative development.

The delegation urged the Finance Commission to continue providing Excluded Area Grants on a regular basis to address the infrastructural deficit until corrective legislative measures are undertaken by the Government of India to enhance the financial resources of Autonomous District Councils. It was further emphasised that ADCs and Tribal Areas under the Sixth Schedule should receive special consideration while determining grants under the Central Finance Commission, given their unique socio-economic challenges.

The representation also underscored the need for special financial provisions under Article 275(1) of the Indian Constitution to raise the level of administration in Sixth Schedule Areas. Drawing parallels to the separate treatment accorded to the Sixth Schedule Areas in Assam under clause (a) of Article 275(1), the delegation argued that similar treatment should be extended to ADCs in Mizoram to ensure equitable development. They pointed out that despite the Finance Commission’s approach of treating ADCs as two tiers Local Body Institutions —with Autonomous District Council as Zilla Panchayat and Village Councils as Gram panchayats—CADC has not received any share of grants allocated to Zilla Panchayats during the entire period of the 15th Finance Commission. They also urged the Commission to recommend for additional fund provision for CADC, in addition to the normal grants under the Excluded Area Grants, to address specific problems, as was done under the 13th Finance Commission.

Some of the projects proposed under the 16th Finance Commission include the completion of the New Secretariat Building at Kamalanagar, the construction of the Chief Executive Member’s Office Building, the establishment of Village Council Court Buildings, construction of Electric Crematorium and an ITI Building, construction of MDC Hostels and Court Buildings, among others.