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 is a landlocked region sharing international borders with Myanmar to the south and Bangladesh to the west, domestic border with Lai Autonomous District Council to the east and Lunglei district to the North. At the 2011 Census, the population was 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.[5][6][7]
The Chakma Autonomous District Council 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.
North Eastern autonomous divisions
History
In 1954 the Central and Assam governments established a regional council, the Pawi Lakher Regional Council (PLRC), for the Lakhers (aka Mara) and the Pawis (aka Lai), 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.[8]
Geography
The surface area of the Chakma Autonomous District Council is 686.25 km2.[9] 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 (Randokpur).[10] 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 (Tuichawng) 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 (Ponsury as called by the Chakmas) the northern bank falling under Lunglei General district and the southern bank Chawngte P, under Lai autonomous District Council.
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 (as per the 2011 census - 96,972). 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[8] to 40,265 (as of 2008). The majority of the people of Chakma Autonomous District Council follow Theravada Buddhism.[11]
Religion of Chakma Autonomous District Council in 2011 census
Buddhism (92.07%)
Christianity (6.03%)
Hinduism (1.47%)
Others (0.43%)
Structure
Chakma Autonomous District Council has a total of 24 Members of District Council (MDC), out of which 20 MDCs are elected and 4 MDCs are nominated. The council is led by a Chief Executive Member (CEM) and Executive Members (EMs). The present CEM is Rasik Mohan Chakma.
Administrative
Departments
It has a total of 32 No. of departments and they are as follows:
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.[12]
Of the 20 elected District Council Members- MNF (10), BJP (5).[13]
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.[14]
