Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, March 19 2009:
Stating that the government of Manipur, even after a gap of eleven months, has failed in coming out with the final list of the recommendations about the delimitation of 24 district council constituencies in each of the hill districts submitted by the district council delimitation committee (DCDC), the Indigenous Democratic Front (IDF) Thursday questioned the state government on the matter.
It also questioned why the cabinet was sitting over the recommendations.
The IDF informed that the government of Manipur had constituted a three member DCDC vide order No.19/21/2001-CHA dated 23/5/2008 to make recommendations about delimitation of 24 constituencies of each district council based on approximate equal electorate for each constituency in the hill districts of Manipur.
It also informed that Ch Birendra, IAS (retd.) was the chairman while the concerned deputy commissioners (DCs) of Chandel, Ukhrul, Senapati, Tamenglong and Churachandpur were the ex-officio while Abdul Salam, MCS, under secretary (RD and PR/MOCB) was the member secretary.
The IDF further asserted that in this regard, the DCDC had accordingly submitted their recommendations of the same after consideration of the proposals submitted by the DC concerned, various political parties, NGOs and public leaders.
However, after a lapse of eleven months the government has not come out officially with the final list even now, it stated and questioned why the state cabinet was sitting over it.
It also alleged that the government of Manipur has been playing the game of hide and seek with regards to the hill districts for the past 20 years or so.
The IDF also stated that it would be very unfortunate if the government of Manipur is not sensitive to this kind of issue especially to encourage grass root democracy.