The Union Cabinet led by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi today
(23.01.2019) approved a landmark amendment to Article 280 and the Sixth
Schedule to the Constitution. The most important part of these
amendments is that these will significantly improve the financial
resources and administrative powers of the Autonomous District Councils
of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura, fulfilling long standing
aspirations of the tribal population in these North Eastern States.
The
Finance Commission constituted by Union Government will now be
specifically mandated to recommend devolution of financial resources to
the ten Autonomous District Councils as well as the village and
municipal councils in the Sixth Schedule areas. This will be a game
changer, as it will substantially enhance the funds available to these
local government institutions for undertaking development works in these
tribal areas. The amendment also provides for constitution of State
Finance Commissions in the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and
Tripura.The amendments will fulfill the commitments made under
tripartite Memorandum of Settlements signed by Government of India,
State Governments of Assam & Meghalaya, United People’s Democratic
Solidarity(UPDS), Dima Halam Daogah(DHD) and Achik National Volunteers’
Council (ANVC).The amendments propose to rename the existing autonomous
councils as Karbi Anglong Autonomous Territorial Council (KAATC), Dima
Hasao Autonomous Territorial Council (DHATC), Garo Hills Autonomous
Territorial Council (GHATC), Khasi Hills Autonomous Territorial Council
(KHATC), Jaintia Hills Autonomous Territorial Council (JHATC) and
Tripura Tribal Area Autonomous Territorial Council (TTAATC) as the
present jurisdiction of these Councils extend to more than one
districts.
