Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, June 18: Chief Executive of Mizoram Chakma Autonomous District Council, Shanti Jiban Chakma, currently on his maiden visit to the national capital after taking over his present assignment last month, today called on Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh and discussed a wide range of issues related to development as well as socio-political concerns of the Chakma community.
The agenda of discussion included Border Area Development Programme (BADP) and Chakma Council’s demand that it should be involved in the planning and implementation of various schemes under BADP of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Chakma Autonomous Development Council, it said, is situated on the International Border with Bangladesh in the West and Myanmar in the South, which makes it strategically important area, calling for special attention.
Shanti Jiban also brought to the notice of Dr Jitendra Singh, their listed demand for setting up a Chakma House in the national capital of New Delhi. He said, since the Council was not in a position to afford a private building at this point of time, it was requested that the Government of India may kindly allot a government building for use as Chakma House
Chakma Council Chief also handed over a memorandum to the DoNER Minister, which, among other things, called for amendment of the 6th Schedule of the Constitution, in order to provide more administrative power and financial support to the Council. Another issue related to a number of teachers recruited from time to time on fixed pay basis and a request was made for the revision of their salaries.
Shanti Jiban Chakma also handed over to Dr Jitendra Singh, relevant papers relating to the allocation of funds as the financial grant for the modernization of Kamalanagar.
Dr Jitendra Singh gave a patient hearing to the issues raised by the Chakma Council Chief and his team. He said, since most of the issues were not being directly dealt by the Ministry of DoNER, he would try to take up the issues with the relevant Departments in the Ministry of Home Affairs, NITI Aayog and the Mizoram State Government.