It is observed that the structures of autonomous district councils are formed only in the North Eastern Region (NER) of the country, though the vast bulk of tribal people are found outside the NER, such as in Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat etc where this means of development has got missed owing to absence of such autonomous bodies. In the constitution also such provision is absent for states other than the NER.  Whether the issue would be given a thought and the need for creation of ADCs in those states be emphasized by CPI(M)?

Matilal Sarkar, Agartala

The provision for autonomous district councils and autonomous regional councils for tribal areas exists in the constitution of India.  These provisions under the Sixth Schedule are applicable only to the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram in the North East.

The tribal areas in other states like Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Odisha, Maharashtra, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh come under the Fifth Schedule of the constitution.  Here, the tribal areas are notified as `Scheduled Areas’. However, there is no provision for the setting up of an autonomous district council in these Scheduled Areas.  There is only the provision of a Tribes Advisory Council which has no powers.

The CPI(M) is for the setting up of autonomous districts or regions where there is concentration of tribal population in contiguous areas.  The Party Programme advocates the concept of regional autonomy for tribal areas within the state concerned. 

It is in keeping with this perspective that in some of the states where there is concentration of tribal people in contiguous areas, the CPI(M) has demanded the formation of autonomous district councils on the lines of the Sixth Schedule provision.

Even the Sixth Schedule provision for autonomous districts and autonomous district councils has limitations, both in terms of their capacity for legislation and financial powers.  The CPI(M) has been demanding more effective devolution of powers to the ADCs. 

Whatever the provision for regional autonomy under the ADCs, it will not be effectively implemented unless there is a state government with the political will to do so.  In Tripura, because of the existence of a Left Front government over the past three decades, the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) has taken concrete shape and has been invested with devolved powers in certain departments to make it function effectively.

The CPI(M) considers the provision of regional autonomy for the tribal areas an important part of the democratic platform for tribal rights and for the protection of their culture, language and way of life.