ADC Election and Democracy in Manipur

AS Kingson *

Polling at Sandang Senba Maring, Sadar Hills for ADC election on June 1 2015 :: Pix - Bishwarjit Taorem

The Fifth Autonomous District Council election that was held on 1st June 2015 in the Hill areas of Manipur witnessed an improvement at grassroots level as compared to the fourth ADC election of 2010. In the previous ADC elections, most of the councilors were declared elected un-opposed and un-contested in many ADC circles with less people participation.

The Congress led SPF Government in Manipur revived Hill ADC that was kept in shelves for 22 years till 2010. The real purpose of ADC is to promote transparency, accountability and responsibility in its functioning. Every modern nation state in the world promotes ‘decentralization of administration’ from the Centre to the periphery for effective governance and development.

The genesis of the ADC in Manipur date back to Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 1971, an Act passed by the Parliament meant for Hill areas of the state. It paved the way for establishment of six ADCs in Manipur.

In accordance with the powers vested on the Governor of Manipur, following six Autonomous Districts Councils were constituted on 14th February, 1972
(i) Chandel Autonomous District Council
(ii) Churachandpur Autonomous District Council
(iii) Sadar Hills Autonomous District Council,Kangpokpi
(iv) Manipur North Autonomous District Council, Senapati
(v) Tamenglong Autonomous District Council and
(vi) Ukhrul Autonomous District Council.

Though Manipur has five hill districts, one of them, i.e. Senapati has two District Councils (Senapati and Sadar Hills). Manipur ADC and ADC under Six Scheduled are the only local-self governments that are found in tribal hill areas of Northeast, whereas Fifth Scheduled existed in 9 states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odissa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.

Many tribal voices from Fifth Scheduled areas such as Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, etc. demanded existing Sixth Scheduled of Northeast region. In Manipur too, the tribal demanded the extension of ADC under Sixth Scheduled that is being applied in other Northeastern states. Fifth and Six Scheduled are local governments that are operated only in tribal areas across the country.

But in the real term, the state governments neglected the plight of the tribal and refused to delegate the tribal autonomy. The various Central Government directives to the states for delegation of powers to local bodies like ADC and PRI (Panchayat Raj Institution) have not really happen in post-independent period. This is one of the major weaknesses of India being a largest democracy, is not able to deliver genuine democracy at grassroots level.

The participation of political parties in ADC has numerous positive implications as it educated the electorates that they are being never aware off. Every political party in its programme and manifestos showed their rights and duties that they owe to the people. Political parties educated the local people in regards to social, economic and political issues confronting them. In the present ADC election in Manipur, prominent parties such as INC, NPF and BJP have fielded many candidates that are well-known to the locals. ADC election is not free from money and muscles powers which have plagued the Indian democracy.

Till date, the ADC has been amended four times in Manipur. The First Amendment of 1975 envisaged removal of the Chairman of the District Council by the Government for reasons to be recorded in writing upon passing of a resolution by the District Council by a simple majority of the total membership of the Council.

The Second Amendment of 2006 envisaged the following features (i) Notifying areas as urban areas for the purpose of development plan and to execute the works (ii) Allotment/transfer/lease of land by a resolution passed by the District Council.

The Third Amendment of 2008 envisaged the following: Increase in membership from18 to 24, Election Commission of the State to be entrusted election to HDC (Hill District Council), Constitution of Executive Committee, Addition of 9 entries to the list of powers of the Autonomous Hill Districts such as sports and youth affairs, adult and non-formal education, horticulture and floriculture, rural housing and schemes under rural development including tribal development, khadi & village industries and cottage industries, small scale industries, non-conventional energy sources, library and cultural activities and finally any other matter which the Administrator may in consultation with the Hill Areas Committee entrust to the District Council in the field of agriculture, animal husbandry, community development, social and tribal welfare, village planning or any other matter.

In the Fourth Amendment, the substitution of the section 23(1) of the Principal Act, it deals with the choosing of two members to be Chairman and Vice-Chairman of an ADC unit in Manipur. It also added a provision that “no such resolution shall be brought within two years from the date of election of the chairman”.

The Fourth and latest Amendment of 2011 aims to prevent emergence of unstable conditions in the District Council due to several moves of no confidence motions against the Chairman that was experienced in the past. No confidence motion happened regularly in the past ADCs as well as in the Zilla Parishads (PRI) in the four valley districts that gives way to instability in local government.

For democracy to be success in Manipur, Hill ADCs and its counterpart PRIs in valley need proper attention from policy makers. Democracy has no place without empowerment of local government.