Communal mistrust in Manipur vis-à-vis the ADC Bill, 2021

Shri Paolienlal Haokip, MLA, Saikot (ST) Assembly Constituency, in the recently concluded Second Session of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, raised a question of communal mistrust in Manipur. In response, Chief Minister of Manipur Shri N. Biren Singh denied any communal mistrust but stated that the government is working well with all people of the state for peace and development. However, when one looks at the entire socio-political scenario in Manipur, it is unmistakable that there is a communal mistrust that may erupt at any time if just and timely action is not taken.

The ADC Bill, 2021

The Hill Area Committee (HAC) recommended Autonomous District Council (ADC) Bill, 2021 was to be tabled at the monsoon session of the assembly for greater financial and administrative autonomy of the hill regions to ensure development that can be at par with the valley areas of the state. The Bill seeks to make amends for the growing disparity between the Hills and the Valley, especially in terms of budget allocation that appears to be highly disproportionate and therefore also discriminatory. 

For instance, in the fiscal year 2020-2021, the total budget allocation for Manipur was Rs 7,000 crore, out of which Rs 6,959 crore was sanctioned for the valley and just Rs 41 crore for the Hills (as presented by Shri Alfred K Arthur, ex-MLA, Ukhrul). Moreover, from the fiscal year 2017-2021, out of the total budget allocation of Rs 21,900 crore for Manipur, only Rs 419 crore was allocated for the Hills while a staggering Rs 21,481 crore was used in the valley. This is grossly unjustified considering that the valley only covers 10 per cent while the Hills cover 90 per cent of the total geographical area of Manipur. The ADC Bill, 2021, in a compendium is to straighten these injustices.