Dr Yaronsho Ngalung, former ADC chairman Ukhrul who was felicitated as Caretaker Chairman at ADC office Ukhrul on Friday said the pending elections of the six Autonomous district Councils (ADCs) of Manipur hills district need to be conducted as soon as the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic situation improves in the State for local self-government to function smoothly. At the grassroots levels ADC Members are an indispensable agent of development.
Dr Yaronsho elevation to the post of Caretaker chairman was in keeping with the ordered issued on 17 May, 2021 by Additional Chief Secretary, TA & Hills, Government of Manipur to appoint all the existing ADC Chairmen as Caretaker Chairman till the election of the ADC are held.
Speaking to Ukhrul Times, the newly felicitated Caretaker chairman Dr Yaronsho Ngalung while recalling the background of fund allocation meant for the six ADCs of Manipur Hills district said that as ADCs Manipur was excluded from the 14th FC recommendation award, the Chairmen Forum, of which the incumbent is the Coordinator, went to Delhi 14 times (for more than 2 years to see to it that the fund is release from the centre pool) to apprised the concerned centre leaders concerning the crucial matter . After making series of back-to-back trip to national capital, in October 2017, the 14 FC was sanctioned for three years and subsequently we have been getting the fund. Now, 15 FC has also started giving fund to the ADC Manipur. “FCs has been the main driving force for village levels development. And we had made it happen.”
Commenting on the role and importance of ADC for the hill districts, Yaronsho said to keep ADC as a local body institution, all the public should demand for early conduct of ADC election adding that hassle free functioning of the local government at the door step would ensure better governance and usher a new development.
His comments came when various Hill bodies including ATSUM has been strongly demanding the state government to conduct the ADC poll without further delay. Then came, the second wave of Covid pandemic and the subsequent public curfew following the alarming spread of the infections and death cases.
Also read: ATSUM: Appointment of existing ADCs chairmen as caretaker belittles Article 371C
Moderated by UADC CEO Polly Makan, the august program was attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner, David Kashungnao; former Vice Chairman, M. Isaac, former Executive Members including Edmund Chiphang, VS. Paothing, Themreishang AS, HS. Ngamsung, Additional CEO, Inspector of Schools, DIs and SIs, among others. While, Rev. Mayonsing Ngalung, Pastor, Viewland Baptist Church invoked the blessing.
Driving home the works the ADC team headed by him had done in their tenure, he exuded confidence and underscored that they have had constructed 10 new Council Primary Schools (CPS) and more than 30 Barrack Type Teachers Quarter in Ukhrul and Kamjong district.
The State also gave us State fund through 3rd Manipur State Finance Commission Award. Through this all the former ADC Members have executed development at village level which are satisfactory. Apart from all these development projects, ADC Ukhrul got the title of “cleanest town” in Manipur in 2019, he added.
He continued we have a Small Town Committee (STC -where he is the incharge). Town beautification and sanitary works are being done by us. We are employing more than 70 Casual Workers to do all this job. As markets come under us, we have started regulating the traffic system at Ukhrul Headquarters thanks for the cooperation of the police department.
In the past there was no such arrangement. We have started the vehicular movement as well besides fixing rates of meat, chicken and fish from time to time as per the season. However, to achieve all these, a better system, and public support and cooperation is of paramount importance, Ngalung added.
Opening up on his new role, he said Caretaker Chairman is just a temporary arrangement. Within this period, that is, till the ADC is held, and urged the ADC officials and staffs for their cooperation, while urging the concerned deputy commissioners to extend maximum co-operation to the Caretaker Chairmen of six ADCs.
Meanwhile, Dr Ngalung made a clarion call to the public to extend their fullest support and cooperation for smooth and unhindered functioning of the ADCs of Manipur.
The Co-ordinator of the ADCs Chairmen Forum also express his sincere appreciation to Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and his Council of Ministers and Chairman of HAC for filling the vacuum of ADCs by making them (referring to chairmen of ADCs) as Caretaker Chairmen till the ADCs election is held. And praise the Almighty for whatever had happened in their midst.
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