In a fervent appeal echoing through the corridors of Manipur's political landscape, a group of former Autonomous District Council (ADC) members on Tuesday voiced their concerns over the prolonged delay in conducting ADC and local bodies’ elections and the physical absence of TA & Hills minister.
Standing firm against what they perceive as an affront to democratic principles, these former representatives demanded immediate action from the authorities to synchronise the six existing ADCs and local bodies’ elections with the ensuing MP Election 2024.
The backdrop of their demand stems from the stark reality that Manipur's hill districts have languished without elections for over three years and three months, rendering the ADC offices mere shells, helmed by caretaker chairmen whose functionality falls far short of public satisfaction, according to the former ADC members.
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, former executive member of Ukhrul ADC, Wungreiyo Ningshen while speaking to the media at ADC Bhawan in Imphal emphasised the systemic failure evident in the prolonged hiatus of ADC elections, which strikes at the heart of the three-tiered governance structure, while the Assembly and Parliament elections are conducted as per the scheduled.
Ningshen's lament reverberated with the sentiment shared by many hill district residents stressing the indispensable role of local governing bodies in ensuring equitable development.
Citing the vastness of terrain that often renders MLAs or MPs incapable of reaching every corner of their jurisdictions, Ningshen illuminated the indispensable role of ADCs in facilitating grassroots governance and development initiatives.
The absence of ADC elections, as lamented by former vice-chairman of ADC Ukhrul, M Isaac, has not only stymied developmental progress but has also sowed seeds of disunity among Manipur's diverse populace.
Despite the earnest efforts of Chief Minister N Biren Singh to bridge the gap between hill and valley regions, the prolonged delay in ADC elections has exacerbated tensions, leaving hill communities feeling marginalised and neglected.
As development are not reach to hills due to defunct of ADCs, it has hurt the sentiment of the hill peoples, he said, adding that the only way to fix the sentiments is the conduction of ADC elections of the six existing ADCs in line with the ensuing MP election and it is the voice of the peoples of hills.
Adding fuel to the fire is the conspicuous physical absence of the minister of Tribal Affairs and Hills from his office, exacerbating the plight of hill residents who find themselves stranded amidst bureaucratic stagnation.
The former ADC executive member Wungreiyo Ningshen expressed the need for re-shuffling of Tribal Affairs and Hills minister.
He explained that as the concerned minister is not physically present in his office and is out of station, there seems to be no minister of Tribal Affairs and Hills in Manipur, the department is being defunct and as a result there is no progress in the developmental activities of hills people in Manipur.
In this regard, the former ADC members demanded appointment of a new minister of Tribal Affairs and Hills in the overall interest of the public.
