Chakma District

Chakma District 𑄌𑄋𑄴𑄟𑄳𑄦 𑄝𑄟𑄴
Autonomous District
The Chakma District
Flag Seal
Country	India
State	Mizoram
District	Lawngtlai
Headquarter	Kamalanagar
Government
• Type	Autonomous Council Government
• Body	Chakma Autonomous District Council
• Chief Executive Member	Rashik Mohan Chakma (Mizo National Front)
Area
• Total	686.25 km^2 (265 sq mi)
Population  (2011 census)
• Total	62,094
• Density	90.5/km^2 (234.3/sq mi)
Demonym	Chakma

The Chakma District(Chakma: 𑄌𑄋𑄴𑄟𑄳𑄦 𑄝𑄟𑄴, 'Canghma Bamh' ) is an landlocked autonomous district of India, located in the south-west part of the state of Mizoram.^[1] 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 km² (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.^[2]

Etymology

The name of the Chakma District derives from the Chakma people, the primary inhabitants of this autonomous region in Mizoram. 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.^[3]

History

The Chakma district was created on 29 April 1972 under the Sixth Schedule to the constitution of India by trifurcating the Pawi-Lakher Regional Council into Mara Autonomous District Council (MADC), Lai Autonomous District Council (LADC) and Chakma Autonomous District Council. While MADC remained under a single district of Saiha, CADC and LADC were accommodated under 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.^[4]

Geography

The Chakma district falls between 21⁰58’ (N) and 22⁰45’ (N) and between 92⁰30’ (E) and 92⁰45’ (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 – Toijong and Thega – 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.

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 to 40,265 (as of 2008).^[5] The majority of the people of Chakma Autonomous District Council follow Theravada Buddhism.^[6]

Politics

Main article: Chakma Autonomous District Council

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.^[7]

Administrations

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 ^[8]

Serial No.	Name of the Constituency	Villages	Created
1	Borapansury – I	Borunasury	1972
		Borapansury - I
		Kurbalobasora
2	Borapansury – II	Barapansury – II	1972
		Silsury
		Tungasora
		Ugalsury
3	Chotopansury	Chotapansury	1972
		Gerakuluksora
		Gulsingbapsora
		Nagdrasora
		Sangrasury
4	Bajeisora	Baganpara	1972
		Bajeisora
		Montola
		Ngharum
		Old Bajeisora
		Ugudasury (N)
5	Kamalanagar (N)	Kamalanagar – I	2013
		Kamalanagar – II
		Ugudasury (N)
6	Kamalanagar (S)	Kamalanagar-III	2013
7	Kamalanagar (W)	Kamalanagar – IV	2013
		Rajmondal – II
		Saizawh (W)
8	Udalthana	Bormon	1972
		Nolbonya
		Udalthana – I
		udalthana – II
9	Ugudasury (S)	Bankawn	1972
		Jarulsury
		Ugudasury (S)
10	Mandisora	Adubangasora	1972
		Mondirasora
		Serlui (Jamersury)
		Ulusury
11	Ajasora	Ajasora – I	1972
		Ajasora – II
		Ajasora – III
		Borkolok
12	Mainabapsora	Barakabakali	1972
		Bortuli
		Kukurduleya
		Mainabapsora – I
		Mainabapsora – II
		Pelyabapsora
13	Vaseitlang	Charluitlang	1972
		Devasora (N)
		Saminisora
		Vaseitlang – I
		Vaseitlang – II
14	Longpuighat	Betbonya	1972
		Golasury
		Longpuighat
		Semeisury
15	Rengkashya	Futsury	1972
		Lokkisury
		Rengkashya
16	New Jagnasury	Chotoguisury – I	1972
		Chotoguisury – II
		Damdep – I
		Dursora
		Fulsora
		Pablakhali
		Silbhanga
17	Jaruldobasora	Gersury	1972
		Jaruldobasora
		Ludisora
18	Fultuli	Baraiguisury	1972
		Bilosora
		Fultuli
		New Fultuli
		Samuksora
		Silosora
19	Devasora (S)	Devasora (S)	1972
		Kamtuli
		Parva – III
20	Parva	Bundukbanga	1972
		Gabasury
		Parva – I
		Parva – II
		Siminasora

References

1. https://www.mea.gov.in/Images/pdf1/S6.pdf. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
2. "CADC at a Glance – Chakma Autonomous District Council".
3. "Chakma people".
4. "About CADC – Chakma Autonomous District Council".
5. https://mizoram.nic.in/aplan/app0304/detail.pdf. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
6. https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/Religion_pca/RL-1500.xlsx. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
7. "Ruling MNF sweeps Mizoram village council polls, bypoll". 16 March 2020.
8. "CADC Constituencies – Chakma Autonomous District Council".