Good [morning/afternoon] everyone.
Today, I'll be discussing the current administrative structure in
Manipur, its challenges, and the demands from the hill communities for greater autonomy. I’ll focus
on three key areas: (1) the existing governance framework, (2) the demands of the hill people for the
extension of the Sixth Schedule, and (3) the reasons why the current system has failed to address the
unique challenges of the hill regions.
1. Current Administrative Structure in Manipur:**
Manipur’s hill areas are currently governed by the **Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 1971**,
which established **Autonomous District Councils (ADCs)**. However, these ADCs are limited in
power. Unlike those under the **Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution**, which exists in other
tribal regions of India, Manipur’s ADCs lack crucial legislative, financial, and administrative autonomy.
The ADCs in Manipur can manage minor developmental tasks like **markets and roads**, but they
have no authority over important areas like **land rights, natural resource management, or economic
development**. This limitation leaves the hill people dependent on the state government, which
operates with a more centralized control system, creating a bottleneck for development.
2. Demands for Extension of the Sixth Schedule:
The people of the hill areas are **demanding the extension of the Sixth Schedule** to the hill districts
of Manipur. Under the Sixth Schedule, **ADCs would have more extensive powers**, including
legislative authority over **land, forests, water resources, local policing**, and greater **financial
autonomy**.
These councils would also be empowered to manage **local revenues**, which is critical for
addressing the challenges of underdevelopment and isolation that the hill areas face. By gaining these
powers, the hill people can take ownership of their development, thereby reducing their dependence
on the state government, which has historically overlooked their needs.
**3. Issues with the Current Administrative System:**
The current governance model is failing due to several critical factors:
- **Disproportionate Representation in the Legislative Assembly**: The **Manipur Legislative
Assembly** has 60 constituencies, 40 in the valley and 20 in the hills. Even though the hill districts
have larger average elector counts, they remain underrepresented. This leads to an imbalance in
resource allocation and development priorities, further marginalizing the hill communities.
- **Bureaucratic Manipulation and Encroachment**: There have been instances where hill villages
are brought under the jurisdiction of valley districts for **administrative convenience**, which the
hill people see as an encroachment on their land and autonomy. Additionally, many hill villages'
**land records are controlled by valley districts**, which further marginalizes the hill people.
- **Financial Dependence**: The **ADCs are financially dependent** on the state government.
Without financial autonomy, they cannot plan and execute meaningful projects. Funds are often
delayed or inadequate, resulting in poor infrastructure and a lack of essential services like healthcare
and education.
- **Conflict of Dual Governance**: There is a **dual governance structure** in many hill areas where
traditional institutions like village councils overlap with formal constitutional structures like ADCs. This
creates **confusion and inefficiency**, as both systems often clash over jurisdictional authority.
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**4. Why the System is Failing:**
Several interconnected reasons have contributed to the failure of the current system:
- **Geographical and Economic Isolation**: The hill areas are geographically isolated, which has
resulted in uneven development. The state government has failed to **tailor development policies**
to the specific challenges faced by these regions, leading to poor infrastructure, lack of
industrialization, and limited employment opportunities.
- **Political Marginalization**: The people of the hills feel politically marginalized due to the **valley-
centric governance** structure. With disproportionate representation in the state assembly, they feel
their concerns are not adequately addressed, fueling calls for greater autonomy under the Sixth
Schedule.
- **Cultural Disconnection**: The current administrative model does not respect the **traditional
governance systems** of the hill communities. The dual authority structure creates friction between
traditional and formal institutions, leading to **administrative inefficiency** and **cultural
alienation**.
- **Failure to Develop Local Solutions**: The top-down governance model fails to create **local
solutions for local problems**. Without legislative and financial powers, the ADCs are unable to
address the unique economic, social, and cultural challenges faced by the hill communities.
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**5. The Kuki Community’s Call for Separate Administration:**
The **Kuki-Zo community** has been particularly vocal about the need for a **separate
administrative structure**. Due to perceived inaction and bias from the state government during
violent clashes, 10 Kuki MLAs have formally requested a separate administration with an independent
**Director General of Police and Chief Secretary** for Kuki-dominated districts. This demand stems
from a **loss of trust in state authorities**, and the community believes that only through a separate
administrative setup can they ensure proper protection and representation of their rights.
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**Conclusion:**
To address the growing **disparity between the valley and the hills**, several key steps must be
taken:
- The **extension of the Sixth Schedule** to the hill areas to grant the ADCs greater powers.
- The state government must **withdraw orders that encroach on hill areas** and **return land
records** to hill district authorities.
- The issue of **disproportionate representation** in the legislative assembly must be addressed.
- Finally, promoting **inclusive dialogue** and **neutralizing ethnic majoritarianism** is essential to
bringing peace and development to the state of Manipur.
Thank you for your attention. I look forward to our discussion on how we can move forward with
these important issues.
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This structured speech will help you convey all the critical points clearly and efficiently within a 7-
minute timeframe.
