The Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC) 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 governs part of the Lawngtlai district that is sometimes called the Chakma District (Chakma: ðÂÂÂðÂÂÂð´ðÂÂÂð³ð¦ ðÂÂÂðÂÂÂð´, <nowiki/>'<nowiki/>Canghma Bamh'<nowiki/> ), a landlocked autonomous district. The Chakma District lies bordered to the north by Lunglei District, to the east by Lai District, and shares international boundaries to the south with Chin State in Myanmar, and to the west with the Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh. The administrative headquarters of the Chakma district is in Kamalanagar (also known as Chawngte). Covering an area of 686.25 km<sup>2</sup> (approximately 265 square miles), the Chakma district makes up about 3.25% of the total area of Mizoram. According to the 2011 Census of India, the district is home to a population of 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.
The CADC 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.
The name Chakma derives from the Chakma people, the primary inhabitants of this autonomous region. The term "Chakma" is believed to have historical roots, possibly deriving from the Sanskrit word "Sakya", referencing the followers of Buddha, as the Chakmas have strong historical and cultural ties to Buddhism.
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: Mara Autonomous District Council (MADC), Lai Autonomous District Council (LADC) and CADC.
While MADC remained under a single district of Saiha, CADC and LADC were accommodated under the Lawngtlai district with the district headquarters at Lawngtlai. The then Chakma leaders of the Mizo District Council and Pawi-Lakher Regional Council actively engaged themselves with the Government of Assam and the Government at the centre for the creation of an autonomous council for the Chakmas of Mizoram with the inclusion of all Chakma inhabited areas which presently remains outside CADC. Unfortunately only the portion under Pawi-Lakher Regional council got considered. Out of that also many Chakma inhabited villages along the eastern bank of river Tuichawng were not considered under CADC. Thus two-third of the Chakmas of Mizoram had to remain outside the council.
The surface area of the Chakma Autonomous District Council is 686.25 km<sup>2</sup>. 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). 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.
The Chakma district falls between 21â°58â (N) and 22â°45â (N) and between 92â°30â (E) and 92â°45â (E). The tropic of cancer passes over it and its climate is hot and humid. The gentle foothills of the mighty Himalayas adorn its landscape. The two main rivers â Toijong and Thega â weave along the eastern and the western sides respectively forming its natural boundaries. In the north it is bounded by Lunglei District, Myanmar in the South, LADC in the east and Bangladesh in the west.
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.
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 to 40,265 (as of 2008). The majority of the people of Chakma Autonomous District Council follow Theravada Buddhism. The majority of the people of Chakma Autonomous District Council follow Theravada Buddhism.
Elections of CADC of 20 constituencies takes place every 5 years.
The composition of CADC is as follows:
2018âÂÂ2023
2013âÂÂ2018
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.
There are 20 MDC Constituencies in the Chakma Autonomous District Council. 20 Members of the District Council are elected from these 20 constituencies and 4 MDCs are nominated. The constituencies as on date are
It has a total of 32 No. of departments and they are as follows:
CADC have 83 villages.
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.
Of the 20 elected District Council Members- MNF (10), BJP (5).
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.
1. Chakma Autonomous District Council â The official website of the Chakma Autonomous District Council, Mizoram, India Chakma Autonomous District Council
2. Mizoram: New chief executive member sworn in for Chakma Autonomous District Council
3. Mizoram : Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC) Gets New Chief Executive Member
4. Dg. Mohan Chakma elected uncontested as Chairman of CADC â Chakma Autonomous District Council