A delegation of the Ex-Autonomous District Council (ADC) Members’ Forum of Manipur, led by convenor RS Ngaranchui, met Additional Chief Secretary (Tribal Affairs and Hills) Anurag Bajpai on Monday and submitted a memorandum highlighting concerns over the delay in holding ADC elections in the state.
The memorandum noted that the absence of elected local bodies in the hill areas has affected governance and slowed development. Referring to a recent High Court order directing the government to conduct long-pending Panchayat elections within six months, the Forum urged the state authorities to take similar steps to restore democratic processes in the hill districts.
Bajpai acknowledged the concerns and responded positively, saying the matter of ADC elections, which have not been held since the expiry of the last term in November 2020, was under active consideration.
He also outlined the department’s priorities in the hill districts, with a focus on education. He said strengthening the school system run by the ADCs remained a priority and added that the government aimed to establish one Eklavya Residential Model School (EMRS) in each tribal block. He informed that the EMRS at Riha has already been commissioned, the Churachandpur EMRS is ready for commissioning, and the Chandel EMRS is likely to be completed by the end of the year. Proposals for six more EMRS have been submitted to the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
On higher education, Bajpai said options for new institutions in the hill districts were being explored. He also underlined the government’s focus on strengthening healthcare infrastructure, improving the availability of medical staff in interior areas, and enhancing connectivity through PMGSY and inter-village roads.
Bajpai, who also oversees the Textiles, Commerce and Industry (TCI) department, spoke on the need to expand household and micro-level industries in the hill districts. He said plans were being drawn up to establish industrial estates in districts such as Kangpokpi, Senapati, Tengnoupal, Kamjong and Pherzawl, with new estates at Ukhrul and Chandel nearing completion. According to him, these estates would include common facilities, processing units, packaging centres and marketing outlets to link small entrepreneurs with buyer companies.
He added that MSME tool rooms, Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs) run by women self-help groups, and other initiatives were supporting livelihoods by enabling value addition and marketing of forest products.
On the issue of pensions for former ADC members, Bajpai informed the delegation that the matter was under examination. He also said the Forest Department had initiated carbon trading projects, with some village authorities in Noney district already participating, and directed divisional officers to carry out outreach programmes on the subject.
Bajpai emphasised that a peaceful environment was necessary for attracting investment and driving industrial and economic growth.
The Ex-ADC Forum, while presenting its concerns, also expressed appreciation for steps taken by the Tribal Affairs and Hills Department in recent months, including regular reviews and monitoring of development projects in the hill districts.
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