397 schools to be transferred to ADCs
Power devolution to ADCs finalized
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, February 19 2011: A total of 397 schools, including 176 Junior High Schools and 221 Primary Schools, will be transferred to the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) as government has finalized the extent of devolution of powers of 25 departments.

Government has finalized the matter of devolution of functions and powers to the ADCs after a long consideration for the last around eight months since the revival of the ADCs in five hill districts.

The elections to ADCs were held in May and June last year amidst strong oppositions from various civil societies particularly in Naga dominated districts.

Government has to decide the devolution of powers to ADCs under section 29(1) of the principal Act, Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils (Third Amendment) Act, 2008 .

Levying of Hill House Tax and charge for use of ferry ghats, PHSCs, cattle compounds, shops and commercial establishments handling by the Finance Department will be the transferred to the ADCs.

They will perform the task with approval of the state government.

MCS (Manipur Civil Service) officers will be deputed as CEO (Chief Executive Officers) to each ADC for functioning as finance officer with post creation and supporting staff.

Annual administrative Reports and Annual Audit Report to be placed in the state Assembly will also be done by the ADCs through CEOs.

All PHSCs (Primary Health Sub-Centres) under health and family welfare department will be under the ADCs apart from transferring powers for implementation of all district level schemes - sites and beneficiaries, supervision and monitoring- of the Agriculture Department.

Horticulture and Soil Conservation Department will share 50:50 ratios of powers for selection of beneficiaries and targeted Water Shed Areas management of the department.

In some schemes and projects, selection of beneficiaries/sites will be conducted by ADCs in consultation with the department, in view of the nature and guidelines.

For the Minor Irrigation Department and ADCs do not have the technical manpower to implement the technical schemes, they would provide technical manpower in the implementation of schemes and projects within their own sources.

For Rural Development and Panchayati Raj will share 25% of the work of the MGNREGS to ADCs as per the guidelines the line department have to take 25% and 50% by the Village Authorities.

Selection of beneficiaries of IAY, section of sites for BRGF, selection of SHG (self help group) of SGSY, selection of roads for PMGSY will also be transferred to the ADCs.

Tribal Development Department which has been renamed as Development of Tribals and Scheduled Castes and Hills Department has decided to transfer 20% of the housing scheme, medical treatment schemes, agriculture and horticulture and animal husbandry schemes and assistant to tribal artisans schemes to ADCs.

Social Welfare, Science and Technology, PHED, Veterinary and Animal Husbandry, Youth Affairs and Sports, Adult Education, Co-operation, Consumer Affairs Food and Public Distribution, Fisheries, Forest, Ferries, Industries, MOBC, PWD and Small Town are the other department which would transferred some of their powers to ADCs, official source said.

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