Chakma Autonomous District Council

The 'Chakma Autonomous District Council' was formed under the Sixth schedule of the Constitution of India on April 29, 1972. The Council is the replication of the state assembly and exercises executive power over specially allotted departments. The people of CADC are also enjoying special safeguard granted by the article 273-G of the Constitution of India. 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 Myanamar. The CADC has a land area of 1500 square kilometers and the population grew from 34,528 in 2001 to 40,265 (as of 2008). Chakma peoples are demanding Chakma Autonomous District Assembly "CHAKMALAND" as a Union Territory.

Population

The total Chakma population of Mizoram is estimated to be more than 100,000. The entire population of Chakma Autonomous District Council belongs to schedule tribe. The total population of CADC is 43,528 as per 2011 census out of which 70% of it is dependent on agriculture and the literacy rate of Chakma Autonomous District Council is 68% as per census conducted by the Education Department of CADC in the year 2011.

Headquarters

The headquarters of Chakma Autonomous District Council is Kamalanagar, which is also known as Chawngte. Kamalanagar is located the on north-eastern corner of C.A.D.C and on the bank of Tuichawng river. It is also divided into three parts namely Chawngte-'C' stands for the Chakmas, Chawngte-'P' stands for the Pawis,(now Lais) and Chawngte-'L' stands for Lunglei District i.e. the western and opposite bank of Tuichawng is Kamalanagar, the eastern bank of Tuichawng is divided by the rivulet, CHAWNGTE (PAHN SURI as called by the Chakmas) the northern bank falling under Lunglei General district and the southern bank under Lai autonomous District Council.

Head of the council

CADC is headed by a Chief Executive Member (CEM) and Executive Members (EMs).The present CEM is Buddhalila Chakma.

Number of legislators

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.

Number of departments

It has a total of 27 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

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 Jognasury - I
54. New Jognasury - II
55. Old Bajeisora
56. Parva - I
57. Parva - II
58. Parva - III
59. Rajmandal
60. Rengashya
61. Saizawh 'W'
62. Silosora
63. Silsury
64. Simeisury
65. Siminesora
66. Udalthanasora - I
67. Udalthanasora - II
68. Ugalsury
69. Ugudasory 'S'
70. UgudasurY 'N'
71. Ulusury
72. Vaseitlang - I
73. Vaseitlang - II

History

In 1954 the central and Assam governments granted regional council to the Lakhers (aka Mara) and the Pawis (aka Lai) in the name of Pawi Lakher Regional Council. Large number of Chakmas also fell into the PLRC’s geographic boundary. However, the PLRC could not function from day one. The main reason was that there was no common language among the three tribal communities namely Chakma, Mara and Lai which they could understand. The first meeting was reportedly held without understanding each other’s language. Mizo was used as official language but Chakmas and Maras could hardly understand anything, and ultimately in 1958 the Maras decided to boycott the Regional Council’s meetings. Thus in 1972, the PLRC was divided into three regional councils and upgraded to 3 district councils for Maras, Lais and Chakmas.

Religion

The majority of the people of Chakma Autonomous District Council are Buddhist(Theraveda).They have been following this religion since birth and till death

Economy

Majority of the Chakmas in Mizoram take up farming as their occupations which is an inheritance from the ancestor. They mainly grow rice, vegetables and fruits,etc.,.The rice is consider as the staple food of the chakmas in CHAKMALAND.