Samaw.com

Aizawl, Sept. 6 (Samaw.com news) – Leaders of the three autonomous district councils (ADCs) in Mizoram – Lai, Mara and Chakma district councils who are demanding direct funding from the centre, are also now planning to demand one seat of the Upper House (Rajya Sabha) in the Indian parliament from President Smt. Pratibha Patil when she visits the state later this month, Aizawl-based widely read the Zozam Times daily newspaper reported.

(Photo/Picture: Mizoram map showing Lai, Mara & Chakma Autonomous District Councils and the 8 district map).

In this regard, the source said Lai Autonomous District Council (LADC) Chief Executive Member, Shri C. Ngunlianchunga, Mara District Council CEM, Shri S. Khipo and Chakma Autonomous District Council CEM, Shri Kalikumar Tongchogya and the top ranking officials at the three councils met at Lawngtlai, LADC headquarters last Friday to chalk out the strategy.

In the meeting, the leaders praised the work of Home Ministry under the leadership of Joint Secretary Shri Naveen Verman, whose committee is working on the possibility of implement the direct funding.

The district council leaders have accused the state government that the funds allotted to the autonomous district councils were not reaching them in full and the delay in the release of the funds often caused tremendous problem on the functioning of the district councils and have been demanding direct funding from the centre to the councils.

They alleged that the backwardness of the three district council areas compared to the rest of Mizoram is due to the state government’s mismanagement of the funds allotted to them by the central government.

LADC Planning Vice Chairman Shri Hmunhre was quoted by the source as saying, “When the President of India visits Mizoram on September 23rd and 24th, the three ADC leaders planned to demand one Rajya Sabha seat for the minorities in Mizoram, and also to reserve seats for them in Army, Navy and Airforce for the minorities in the state.”

Currently, Mizoram has one MP each in the Lower House (Lok Sabha) and the Upper House – the Rajya Sabha in Parliament. If the ADC leaders demand is granted, Mizoram will have three Member of Parliament for the first time in history.

With inputs from The Zozam Times.