The 55 townships in Shan State that used to form 12 districts have recently been re-organized as 13, in accordance with the 2008 constitution, according to a report coming from Taunggyi, the state capital.

Two new districts have been carved out of 6 townships in the Wa Self Administered Division, according to the new structure, dated 7 August 2014:

  
         1. Hopang district with-

• Hopang township (under government control)
• Mongmai township (under United Wa State Army control)
• Pangwai township (under United Wa State Army control)

        2. Markmang (Metman in Burmese) district with-

• Markmang township (under government control)
• Napharn township (under UWSA control)
• Panghsang aka Pangkham township (under UWSA control)

Previously, the 4 townships under UWSA control were administrative units under Lashio district.
The 12 former districts were:
Shan State North (23 townships)

1. Lashio district with 8 townships
2. Kyaukme district with 8 townships
3. Muse district with 3 townships
4. Kunlong district with 2 townships
5. Laogai district with 2 townships

Shan State South (21 townships)

1. Taunggyi district with 10 townships
2. Loilem district with 7 townships
3. Langkher district with 4 townships

Shan State East (11 townships)

1. Kengtung district with 5 townships
2. Monghsat district with 3 townships
3. Mongphyak district with 2 townships
4. Tachilek district with 1 townships

The new set-up is as follows:
Shan State North (24 townships)

1. Lashio district with 5 townships
2. Kyaukme district with 6 townships
3. Muse district with 3 townships
4. Laogai district with 2 townships
5. Mongmit district with 2 townships
6. Hopang district with 3 townships
7. Markmang district with 3 township

Shan State South (21 townships)

1. Taunggyi district with 10 townships
2. Loilem district with 7 townships
3. Langkher district with 4 townships

Shan State East (10 townships)

1. Kengtung district with 5 townships
2. Monghsat district with 2 townships
3. Tachilek district with 3 townships

Laogai district is also designated as Kokang Self-Administered Area (SAA). However, other townships that have been designated as Danu SAA, PaO SAA and Palaung/Ta-ang SAA are not having separate districts of their own:

• The 2 townships of Danu SAA, Pangtara and Ywa-ngan, are in Taunggyi district
• So are the 3 townships of PaO SAA, Hopong, Hsihseng and Panglawng
• The 2 townships of Palaung SAA, Namhsan and Mantong, are also in Kyaukme district

“We don’t know whether we are getting more rights or not under the (2008) constitution,” said a PaO activist in Taunggyi.

The Self-Administered Areas/Divisions have been granted the “power” to legislate in 10 areas: urban and rural projects, construction and maintenance of roads and bridges, public health, development affairs, prevention of fire hazard, maintenance of forest, preservation of Natural Environment (in accord with law promulgated by the Union), water and electricity matters in towns and villages, and market matters of towns and villages.

“Even local governments in the Philippines, Indonesia and Cambodia appear to be enjoying more power than our self administered areas, “one of the attendees of the 25-27 May Federalism workshop organized by the Canada-based Forum of Federations (FOF) in Taunggyi had commented. “No wonder some of them are demanding separate statehoods."

According to Myanmar Times, 22 September, the 31 men parliamentary committee set up to draft amendments to the 2008 constitution is ready to submit its bill to the Union Legislature. It is however not known whether or not the question of granting more powers to self-administered areas in non-Burman states has been considered by the committee.