Kamalanagar, 05 January, 2021: The Winter Session of Chakma Autonomous District Council started today with all precautionary measures in place to avoid the spread of Covid-19.

The sitting answered seven unstarred questions and one starred question all of which were put by opposition members belonging to BJP. Some of the questions sought the list of employees regularized by the present Executive Committee, list of resident traders issued trade licences and fees charged, details of projects/schemes sanctioned by NEC, details of works and list of beneficiaries under RKVY during 2018-2021, details of beneficiary farmers and assistant amount received under AH & Vety Department during 2020-21 and detail of Local Revenues received during 2020-21.

The sitting introduced one amendment bill, one bill and a rule of Mizoram government for adoption. The CADC (Constitution and Conduct of Business etc.) (Amendment) Rules’ 2020 and the Mizoram Government Employees (Counting of Past Service) Rules 2020 were introduced by Dg. Rasik Mohan Chakma, CEM, CADC and CADC (Publication Board) Rules, 2020 was introduced by Dg. Lakhi Dhan Chakma, EM i/c Art & Culture, etc. The rules will be discussed and voted in the subsequent sittings.

The CADC (Constitution and Conduct of Business etc.) (Amendment) Rules’ 2020 seek to amend clause (g) of Sub-rule 2 of Rule 28 of principal Rules. If the amendment get passed and receives the assent of the Governor prior approval of the Governor will not be required to fill up created gazette officer post falling vacant due to retirement or death.

The CADC (Publication Board) Rules will facilitate for formation of a Publication Board for the first time to promote and patronize publication of books in Chakma language.

The adoption of the Mizoram Government Employees (Counting of Past Service) Rules, 2020 will fulfill the absence of any rules for CADC to regulate the condition of service of officials with prior service rendered as Work charged, Contract, Provisional or any ad hoc/officiating employees.

The session was adjourned till 8th January 2021.

Kamalanagar, 16 December, 2020: In a programme organised by District Council Secretariat Dg. Rasik Mohan Chakma, CEM, CADC today released a book of compilation of all Acts, Rules & Regulations legislated by Chakma Autonomous District Council till date since 1972.

The programme was attended by Dg. H. Amaresh Chakma, Chairman, CADC besides other MDCs, HODs of different department of CADC and NGO leaders.

The book has been published by District Council Secretariat, CADC at a cost of Rs.4 Lakhs. A total of 1000 copies have been printed which will be available on demand for a price of Rs.300. This is the third book of the department being published during the last four years as reported by Dg. Digambar Chakma, Secretary, District Council Secretariat.

The CEM speaking on the occasion stated that the first and foremost duty of their being elected as representative of the people is to make rules for better governance. He has remarked, “In introspection it seems we have partially failed with this foremost duty of a legislator given just 25 rules have been legislated in a span of 48 years of Council’s existence”.

He recalled how CADC has governed its people with mere 4 to 5 rules till 1999. While pointing to our lack of understanding about the significance of legislating rules he said that it took till 2002 for CADC to frame its own Constitution and Conduct of Business Rules. Till 2002, for 28 years, CADC managed with the Mizoram Autonomous District Council (Constitution and Conduct of Business) Rules 1974 made by the Governor for the three ADCs.

He said during his previous terms as CEM some 16 to 17 rules were legislated and added that this current term of his has passed as many as 8 rules so far which are awaited for assent of the Governor.

He further said, “The duty does not get over with mere legislation of rules. Implementation of the rules has to be ensured by the Executive, of which the ministerial staff including all the officers assembled here are a part.”

He urged the staff to refer to the rules as often as possible while discharging their duties so that the decision makers are better informed before taking any decision.

Kamalanagar, 09 September, 2020: The Monsoon Session of Chakma Autonomous District Council was held today with the approval of the Governor of Mizoram amidst restriction due to Covid-19 pandemic. The Session discussed and passed the motion of thanks to the present Executive Committee for the achievement it has made since assuming office, moved by Dg. Charan Singh Chakma, Deputy Chief Whip.

Achievements in respect of school education and good governance made by the current Executive Committee since assuming office in January, 2019 were discussed. Some of the achievements highlighted during the course of the discussion that are worth a mention are regularization of NFT/MR/Fixed pay staff that are long overdue, according due to the deprived employees, facilitating training for a large number of technical staff, recruitment of staff by conducting examination, implementation of VRS for the aged and incapacitated staff, contribution of Rs.6.78 crore to the Pension Contributory Fund, withdrawing charging of school admission fees, providing durable school furniture to all schools, providing school text book in full set free of cost, vertical extension of PWD office, restructuring the Land Revenue administrative set up, legislation of as many as seven rules, providing relief to persons affected by Covid-19, procurement of 12 office vehicles, construction of roads across CADC under PMGSY including arterial roads like Kamalanagar-Borapansury road, Kamalanagar-Longpuighat road, retention of Kamalanagar Composite Water Supply Scheme, agriculture and school infrastructure projects under NEC, etc.

The Session had to be summoned over a short notice served on 7th September, 2020 which has aggrieved the MDCs of BJP legislature party. The MDCs of the BJP legislature party have remained absent in the session today. Earlier, yesterday, the BJP legislature party aggrieved by the short notice of the summon submitted a memorandum to Dg. H. Amaresh Chakma, Chairman, CADC while alleging violation of rules of CADC (Constitution and Conduct of Business, etc.) Rules, 2002 and demanded rescheduling of the summon of the Monsoon session to maintain the time gap between serving the notice of summon and commencement of the session.

The District Council Secretariat in its reply to the BJP legislature party maintained that no rules have been violated and the Session was called in accordance of Sub-Rule 6 of Rule 33 which states, “Notwithstanding anything contained in this rule, nothing shall restrict the power of the Governor to summon a meeting of the District Council at any time as he may think fit in public interest.”

The District Council Secretariat in a letter dated 14th August, 2020 sought His Excellency’s permission to conduct the Monsoon session from 8th September, 2020 which stated that due time to conduct the Monsoon session was mid-July, which could not be maintained due to Covid-19 prohibitory orders of the government issued from time to time. The governor in a letter dated 7th September, 2020 accorded permission to conduct the Session on 08/09/2020 which had to be deferred by a day for convenient of all.

Kamalanagar, 22 July, 2020: Chakma Autonomous District Council in its Emergency Budget Session’ 2020-2021 which started on 17/07/2020 passed the Budget today unanimously for an amount of Rs.10566 Lakh.

Rs.97,30,41,000/- accounts for salary, Rs.5,85,00,000/- for non-salary, Rs.63,84,00/- for remuneration to Village Councils and Rs.77,98,000/- for non-salary under Village Councils. Local Revenue collection estimated for the current financial year is Rs.1,09,40,000/-.

The estimated requirement for salary to be incurred out of normal grant-in-aid is Rs.110,17,24,000/- resulting in a deficit of Rs.12,86,83,000/-. The estimated requirement of salary for the Village Council remuneration is Rs.67,35,000/- showing a deficit of Rs.3,51,000/-. The deficit against salary is mainly due to demand for implementation of the amended Rules pertaining to Salaries and allowances of the Members.

The Budget Session also presented the Supplementary Demand for Grants, 2019-20 for an amount of Rs.19,66,14,000/-. A portion of the amount has been utilized for payment of salary. The non-salary amount has been utilized for construction of drainage system in Kamalanagar-III, SMBT Road in Borapansury, setting up of brick kiln at Udalthana-I, verticle extension of PWD office building, installation of deep bore well at Chakma House, Aizawl, for payment of outstanding vehicle repairing bills, councilors pending TA/DA bills and for purchase of 11 number of Mahendra Scorpio and 1 407 Tipper.

The Budget Session also passed the following bills:

1. The CADC (Salaries and allowances of Chief Executive Member and Executive Members) (Second Amendment) Bill 2020.
2. The CADC (Salaries and allowances of Chairman and Deputy Chairman) (Second Amendment) Bill 2020.
3. The CADC (Salaries and allowances and pension of Members) (Third Amendment) Bill 2020.
4. The CADC Secretariat (Recruitment and Condition of services) Bill, 2020.
5. The CADC Technical Service (Group A & B posts) Recruitment Bill, 2020.
6. CADC (Forest) (Amendment) Bill, 2020.
   The findings and suggestions of the CADC Audit Committee on CAG report for the period 2009-2010 to 2014-2015 was discussed and passed in the House.

The Budget Session, 2020-21 could not be held in due time and got postponed for about four months due to Covid-19 induced lockdown. The session could be conducted on an emergency notice after being consented by the Governor, Mizoram. The session was conducted while maintaining social distance among the Members who have attended the session.