Chakma Autonomous District Council


The Chakma Autonomous District Council is an autonomous council under the Republic of India. It is located in the Northeast Indian state of Mizoram, of which it covers about 3.25% area of the state. It governs part of the Lawngtlai district that is sometimes called the Chakma District, a landlocked autonomous district. The Chakma District lies bordered to the north by Lunglei District, to the east by Lai District, and shares international boundaries to the south with Chin State in Myanmar, and to the west with the Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh. The administrative headquarters of the Chakma district is in Kamalanagar. Covering an area of 686.25 km2, the Chakma district makes up about 3.25% of the total area of Mizoram. According to the 2011 Census of India, the district is home to a population of 62,094.
Its headquarters is at Kamalanagar. The Chakma people has been demanding to change the status of the Chakma Autonomous District Council into a Union territory under the name Chakmaland.
The CADC was formed under the Sixth schedule of the Constitution of India on 29 April 1972. The council is the replication of the state assembly and exercises executive power over specially allotted departments. It is one of the three Autonomous District Councils of Mizoram state in North-East India. It is an autonomous council for ethnic Chakma people living in South-Western Mizoram bordering Bangladesh and Myanmar. There is also a growing demand for 'Chakmaland' union territory.

Etymology

The name Chakma derives from the Chakma people, the primary inhabitants of this autonomous region. The term "Chakma" is believed to have historical roots, possibly deriving from the Sanskrit word "Sakya", referencing the followers of Buddha, as the Chakmas have strong historical and cultural ties to Buddhism.

History

In 1954 the Central and Assam governments established a regional council, the Pawi Lakher Regional Council, for the Lakhers and the Pawis, in which a large number of Chakmas also resided. However, the PLRC could not function properly right from its inception as there was no common communication language among the three tribal communities to understand each other. The first meeting was held without understanding each other's language. Consequently, in 1958 the Maras boycotted PLRC meetings. In 1972, to resolve the issue the PLRC was divided into three regional councils and upgraded to 3 district councils for Maras, Lais and Chakmas: Mara Autonomous District Council (MADC), Lai Autonomous District Council (LADC) and CADC.
While MADC remained under a single district of Saiha, CADC and LADC were accommodated under the Lawngtlai district with the district headquarters at Lawngtlai. The then Chakma leaders of the Mizo District Council and Pawi-Lakher Regional Council actively engaged themselves with the Government of Assam and the Government at the centre for the creation of an autonomous council for the Chakmas of Mizoram with the inclusion of all Chakma inhabited areas which presently remains outside CADC. Unfortunately only the portion under Pawi-Lakher Regional council got considered. Out of that also many Chakma inhabited villages along the eastern bank of river Tuichawng were not considered under CADC. Thus two-third of the Chakmas of Mizoram had to remain outside the council.

Geography

The surface area of the Chakma Autonomous District Council is 686.25 km2. The headquarters of Chakma Autonomous District Council is Kamalanagar, which means the land of oranges in Chakma language. It is parted into Kamalanagar -1,2,3 & 4. There is only one college in CADC called as Kamalanagar College located at Kamalanagar-2. Kamalanagar is located on the north-eastern corner of C.A.D.C and on the bank of Tuichawng river. On the east of Kamalanagar town i.e. on the other bank of Toizong there stands two Mizo villages known as Chawngte P and Chawngte L. On the eastern bank of Toizong is divided by the rivulet, Chawngte L the northern bank falling under Lunglei General district and the southern bank Chawngte P, under Lai autonomous District Council.
The Chakma district falls between 21⁰58’ and 22⁰45’ and between 92⁰30’ and 92⁰45’. The tropic of cancer passes over it and its climate is hot and humid. The gentle foothills of the mighty Himalayas adorn its landscape. The two main rivers – Toijong and Thega – weave along the eastern and the western sides respectively forming its natural boundaries. In the north it is bounded by Lunglei District, Myanmar in the South, LADC in the east and Bangladesh in the west.

Economy

Majority of the Chakmas in Mizoram take up farming as their occupation. This occupation is inherited from their ancestors. They mainly grow rice, vegetables and fruits, etc. Rice is considered as the staple food of the Chakmas living in Chakma Autonomous District Council.

Demographics

The total Chakma population of Mizoram is estimated to be more than 100,000. The population of Chakma Autonomous District Council are primarily Chakmas who are a designated Schedule Tribe. The total population of CADC is 45,307 as per 2011 census out of which 70% of it is dependent on agriculture. The population grew from 34,528 in 2001 to 40,265. The majority of the people of Chakma Autonomous District Council follow Theravada Buddhism. The majority of the people of Chakma Autonomous District Council follow Theravada Buddhism.

Elections

Elections of CADC of 20 constituencies takes place every 5 years.

Current Composition

The composition of CADC is as follows:

Previous Compositions

2018–2023
'''2013–2018'''

Structure

Chakma Autonomous District Council has a total of 24 Members of District Council, out of which 20 MDCs are elected and 4 MDCs are nominated. The council is led by a Chief Executive Member and Executive Members. The present CEM is Rasik Mohan Chakma.

Administrative

MDC Constituencies

There are 20 MDC Constituencies in the Chakma Autonomous District Council. 20 Members of the District Council are elected from these 20 constituencies and 4 MDCs are nominated. The constituencies as on date are
Serial No.Name of the ConstituencyVillagesCreated
1Borapansury – IBorunasury1972
1Borapansury – IBorapansury - I1972
1Borapansury – IKurbalobasora1972
2Borapansury – IIBarapansury – II1972
2Borapansury – IISilsury1972
2Borapansury – IITungasora1972
2Borapansury – IIUgalsury1972
3ChotopansuryChotapansury1972
3ChotopansuryGerakuluksora1972
3ChotopansuryGulsingbapsora1972
3ChotopansuryNagdrasora1972
3ChotopansurySangrasury1972
4BajeisoraBaganpara1972
4BajeisoraBajeisora1972
4BajeisoraMontola1972
4BajeisoraNgharum1972
4BajeisoraOld Bajeisora1972
4BajeisoraUgudasury 1972
5Kamalanagar Kamalanagar – I2013
5Kamalanagar Kamalanagar – II2013
5Kamalanagar Ugudasury 2013
6Kamalanagar Kamalanagar-III2013
7Kamalanagar Kamalanagar – IV2013
7Kamalanagar Rajmondal – II2013
7Kamalanagar Saizawh 2013
8UdalthanaBormon1972
8UdalthanaNolbonya1972
8UdalthanaUdalthana – I1972
8Udalthanaudalthana – II1972
9Ugudasury Bankawn1972
9Ugudasury Jarulsury1972
9Ugudasury Ugudasury 1972
10MandisoraAdubangasora1972
10MandisoraMondirasora1972
10MandisoraSerlui 1972
10MandisoraUlusury1972
11AjasoraAjasora – I1972
11AjasoraAjasora – II1972
11AjasoraAjasora – III1972
11AjasoraBorkolok1972
12MainabapsoraBarakabakali1972
12MainabapsoraBortuli1972
12MainabapsoraKukurduleya1972
12MainabapsoraMainabapsora – I1972
12MainabapsoraMainabapsora – II1972
12MainabapsoraPelyabapsora1972
13VaseitlangCharluitlang1972
13VaseitlangDevasora 1972
13VaseitlangSaminisora1972
13VaseitlangVaseitlang – I1972
13VaseitlangVaseitlang – II1972
14LongpuighatBetbonya1972
14LongpuighatGolasury1972
14LongpuighatLongpuighat1972
14LongpuighatSemeisury1972
15RengkashyaFutsury1972
15RengkashyaLokkisury1972
15RengkashyaRengkashya1972
16New JagnasuryChotoguisury – I1972
16New JagnasuryChotoguisury – II1972
16New JagnasuryDamdep – I1972
16New JagnasuryDursora1972
16New JagnasuryFulsora1972
16New JagnasuryPablakhali1972
16New JagnasurySilbhanga1972
17JaruldobasoraGersury1972
17JaruldobasoraJaruldobasora1972
17JaruldobasoraLudisora1972
18FultuliBaraiguisury1972
18FultuliBilosora1972
18FultuliFultuli1972
18FultuliNew Fultuli1972
18FultuliSamuksora1972
18FultuliSilosora1972
19Devasora Devasora 1972
19Devasora Kamtuli1972
19Devasora Parva – III1972
20ParvaBundukbanga1972
20ParvaGabasury1972
20ParvaParva – I1972
20ParvaParva – II1972
20ParvaSiminasora1972

Departments

It has a total of 32 No. of departments and they are as follows:
  1. Legislative Department
  2. Judicial Department
  3. Finance Department
  4. General Administration Department
  5. Agriculture Department
  6. Horticulture Department
  7. Fishery Department
  8. Public Health Engineering Department
  9. Industry Department
  10. Sericulture Department
  11. AH & Vety Department
  12. Art & Culture Department
  13. Social Welfare Department
  14. Soil & Water Conservation Department
  15. Local Administrative Department
  16. Environment & Forest Department
  17. Road Transport Department
  18. Sport & Youth Department
  19. Co-operative Department
  20. Public Works Department
  21. Education Department
  22. Rural Development Department
  23. Water ways Department
  24. Information & Public Relation Department
  25. District School Education Board
  26. Land Revenue & Settlement
  27. Planning & Development Department

Number of village councils

CADC have 83 villages.
  1. Adhubangasora
  2. Ajasora - I
  3. Ajasora - II
  4. Ajasora - III
  5. Baganpara
  6. Borunasury
  7. Bajeisora
  8. Bandukbanga
  9. Betbonia
  10. Bilosora
  11. Boraguisury
  12. Borakabakhali
  13. Borapansury - I
  14. Borapansury - II
  15. Borkolok
  16. Boroituli
  17. Bottuli
  18. Charluitlang
  19. Chhotaguisury - I
  20. Chhotaguisury - II
  21. Chhotapansury
  22. Devasora 'N'
  23. Devasora 'S'
  24. Dursora
  25. Fulsora
  26. Fultuli
  27. Futsury
  28. Geraguluksora
  29. Gerasury
  30. Gobasury
  31. Golasury
  32. Gulsingbapsora
  33. Jamersury
  34. Jaruldobasora
  35. Jarulsury
  36. Kamalanagar - I
  37. Kamalanagar - II
  38. Kamalanagar - III
  39. Kamalanagar - IV
  40. Kamtuli
  41. Kukurduleya
  42. Kurbalavasora
  43. Lokhisury
  44. Longpuighat
  45. Ludisora
  46. Mandirasora
  47. Maniabapsora - I
  48. Maniabapsora - II
  49. Montola
  50. Nadarasora
  51. Nalbania
  52. New Chhippui
  53. New Jagnasury - I
  54. New Jagnasury - II
  55. Old Bajeisora
  56. Parva - I
  57. Parva - II
  58. Parva - III
  59. Rajmandal
  60. Rengashya
  61. Silosora
  62. Silsury
  63. Simeisury
  64. Siminesora
  65. Udalthanasora - I
  66. Udalthanasora - II
  67. Ugalsury
  68. Ugudasory 'S'
  69. UgudasurY 'N'
  70. Ulusury
  71. Vaseitlang - I
  72. Vaseitlang - II
  73. W.Saizawh

Legislative

Chief executives

The Chief Executive Member exercises all its executive powers in the name of the executive committee of the District Council. The chief executive chairs meetings of the executive committee of the Chakma Autonomous District Council.
S. No.PortraitNameTerm startTerm end
1Atul Chandra Chakma2 April 197222 January 1973
2Nilo Muni Chakma23 January 197316 December 1973
3Sneha Kumar Chakma17 December 19731 May 1976
4Nilo Muni Chakma15 March 197823 January 1983
5Ramoni Chakma27 January 197320 April 1983
6Pulin Bayan Chakma21 April 19832 January 1987
7Nutan Kumar Chakma3 January 198723 January 1988
8Pulin Bayan Chakma29 January 198823 January 1993
9Pulin Bayan Chakma24 January 199319 July 1994
10Adi Kanta Tongchongya20 July 199421 January 1998
11Pulin Bayan Chakma22 January 199812 December 1999
12Rasik Mohan Chakma14 December 199918 February 2003
13Rasik Mohan Chakma26 February 200320 February 2008
14Kali Kumar Tongchangya11 March 200823 April 2013
15[Buddha Dhan Chakma|Dr. The Buddha|Buddha Dhan Chakma]25 April 20137 January 2014
16Buddha Lila Chakma20 January 201425 September 2015
17Kali Kumar Tongchongya29 September 20153 July 2017
18Governor's Rule4 July 20172 November 2017
19Amit Kumar Chakma3 November 201721 March 2018
20Governor's Rule22 March 20181 May 2018
21Shanti Jiban Chakma2 May 201815 January 2019
22Rasik Mohan Chakma18 January 20195 April 2021
23Durjya Dhan Chakma5 April 20213 October 2021
24Rasik Mohan Chakma9 October 20212 June 2022
25Buddha Lila Chakma3 June 202216 November 2022
26Governor's Rule17 November 202221 May 2023
26Rasik Mohan Chakma22 May 202323 December 2024
27Molin Kumar Chakms23 December 2024Incumbent

Politics

Of the 20 elected District Council Members- MNF, BJP.
Of the 516 village council seats in Chakma Autonomous District Council, the Mizo National Front has 371 seats, Bharatiya Janata Party has 115 seats, Indian National Congress has 2 seats and independent candidates have 27 seats. The MNF is in majority in 65 village Councils while the BJP is in majority in 16 village Council.In the remaining 4 Village Council no party has absolute majority.