Chakma Autonomous District Council

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. 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 Myanmar. The CADC has a land area of 1500 square kilometres 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.

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.

The headquarters of Chakma Autonomous District Council is Kamalanagar(Which means the town of orange in Chakma language), which is also known as Chawngte-C. It is parted into Kamalanagar -1,2,3 & 4.There is only one college in CADC called as Kamalanagar Govt.College located at Kamalanagar-1 near the Football playground. 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 Chawngt L(under the region of Kamalanagar Town also dependent of Kamalanagar).On the eastern bank of Toizong 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.

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

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.

It has a total of 27 No. of departments and they are as follows:

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.

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