Village Authority election in Manipur

~ T. Zamlunmang Zou @ Pupu Zou

 

Election is the root to all power and development, also the root of all evils and hatrates.

 

The proposed Village Authority election in the hill districts of Manipur has drawn a mix-bag of responses as it caused a degree of resentment within certain sections of the society while it induce others to gladly accept it.

 

Almost all Chiefs association from the Kuki community has raised objection to holding the election which they believe will eventually end-up in eliminating the chieftainship – that was followed for ages in the long run. The Zomi Council on the other hand contrasted the view and publicly endorsed the government’s initiative on the ground that it will root-out the present practice of nominating an individual’s choice. (TSE)

 

On the other hand, The Naga Chiefs Association (NCA), Chandel has conveyed firm opposition to Village Authority Election, 2012 in Naga villages. This was decided during a meeting of all Naga chiefs which was held on October 17 at Maha Area Chiefs’ Association office, said a statement issued by NCA, Chandel. The meeting also decided to impose a fine of Rs 5 lakh to any village that violates the resolution adopted by the village chiefs in this regard. Stating that the Naga Village Authority system has its unique traditional style and function which even the Government of India recognised, the NCA statement added that it cannot be influenced and dictated by any outside force. (TSE)

 

It is time that the Kuki chiefs Association, Naga Chiefs Association and Zomi Council sit togather and laydown the pros and corns, so that they can flow in one stream. What is the benefit of voicing different tunes in this crucial time. Lets do it together, we can do it.

 

On the other hand, the indegenous hill people of Manipur have our own traditional way of geverning ourselves since time immemorial, it is questionable that why the government of manipur is so interested in involving in the traditional but inline with the modern systems of administration of hill people? The government sources says that the Manipur (Village Authorities in Hill Areas) Second Amendment Ordinance, 2010 was to make the village Authority/Council function in a more democratic fashion and the village to be a viable unit for development purpose. Does the Chieftainship Institution’s Customary Laws and Traditional Practices are too backward to bring development and advocacy to the people?

 

If election is conducted in each vilage, the bonding between the vllagers is sure to have a gap out of favouritism among the clans or groups of same dialects. It might not be favourable for the peaceful co-existance of the vilage people. But in a semi town like a bigger villages, it might be better off. There is also a chance that the mojority of the people in some villages might used it as a tools to dominate the Chief.

 

The Manipur Village Authorities (Hill Areas) Act, 1956

 

The Parliament passed the Manipur Village Authority (Hill Areas) Act, 1956, for the administration of the hill areas in the State. The Act, which was implemented in 1957, determined the number of members of a village authority on the basis of the number of taxpaying houses.

 

Number Of Members Of A Village Authority On The Basis Of The Number Of Tax-Paying Houses

Sl. No.	Number of Tax-paying Houses	Number of Members in a Village Authority
1.	20 to 60 tax-paying houses	5
2.	61 to 100 tax-paying houses	7
3.	101 to 150 tax-paying houses	10

This Act introduced the controversial provision for elections to the village authority. The members of the village authority were elected on the basis of adult franchise. Whereas, the Chief of the village used to nominate members to the village authorities. This is therefore opposed, most strongly in the hill areas.

A total of 725 village authorities were constituted under the Manipur Village Authority (in the Hill Areas) Act, 1956, in seven areas of the hills.

Number of Village Authorities Under The Manipur Village Authority Act, 1956 (Sub-Divisionwise)

Sl.No.	Name Of The Sub-Division/Circle	No. Of Village Authorities	No. Of Elected Members
1.	Sardar Hills	68	263
2.	Tengnoupal Sub-Division	105	568
3.	Tengnoupal Circle	82	371
4.	Ukhrul	121	76
5.	Mao	121	76
6.	Jiribam	16	89
7.	Churachandpur	112	571
Total		725	2640

 

The Act also placed limitations on the powers of the Chief. Before the Act was introduced, the Chief along with the village authority functioned as the village court. However, under the Act, the head of state was authorised to appoint two or more members of the village authority to function as the court. If the Chiefs were not members of the court, he/she could not preside over it. The court selected one of its members as the chairperson of the court.

 

This Act may be regarded as one of the first steps towards the democratisation of hill administration in Manipur. By placing certain restrictions on the powers of the Chief and by introducing adult franchise at the lowest level of administration, i.e. the village authority, the common villagers became aware of democratic values and practices.

 

The Manipur Hill Areas Acquisition of Chief’s Rights Act, 1967.

 

Through this Act, an attempt was made to abolish chieftainship in the hill areas of the state by paying compensation. There was a difference of opinion between the Hill Areas Committee and the Legislative Assembly regarding the passing of the Bill leading to the Act. The former did not agree with several provisions of the Bill. The Act, however, has not been implemented fully. Chieftainship prevails with all its rights and privileges in the hill areas. Thus democratization of village councils through elections as well as statutory representation for women remains one of the most contentions issues in decentralization governance in the hills. Dilution of the Chief’s powers is conflated with undermining of autonomy of the tribes ever since Chiefdom became synonymous with territorial authority for the clan as a whole.

 

While welcoming the proposal of the Government for holding village authority election, the Hills Tribal People Welfare Forum, Manipur has urged the State Government to effect certain modification/amendment of the existing VA Act, 1956 in order to restore natural justice in the Hill districts of the State. In a statement, the HTPWFM maintained that conducting VA election is a wise decision and policy of the Govt of Manipur which is expected to solve the problems pertaining to present situation prevailing in the hill areas. It noted that many khunbu/khullakpa/chiefs have been creating various problems as they assumed the ex-officio chairmanship without any democratic election. And as such, most welfare schemes of the Government like MGNREGS have been misused/siphoned off arbitrarily. However, the statement suggested certain modification of the existing VA Act 1956, which would go a long way in the development of the hill areas.

References

 

1. Guite, S Singlianmang, (25-Oct-2012), VA election draws mix response, The Sangai Express, Retrived 25th October 2012, http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/tseitm-20424-va-election-draws-mix-response/
2. 20-Oct-2012, Naga Chiefs, The Sangai Express, Retrived 25th October 2012, http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/tseitm-20265-naga-chiefs/
3. Govt. of Manipur, The Manipur (Village Authority in Hill Areas) Act, 1956.
4. Govt. of Manipur, The Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 1971.