Meghalaya minor tribes fear exclusion from Sixth Schedule

News:The Meghalaya government recommendation to exclude unrepresented tribes from the provisions of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution has left minor tribes in a state of worry.

Facts:

About Meghalaya:

• Meghalaya is divided into autonomous councils in the names of the three major matrilineal communities — Garo, Khasi and Jaintia.
• The minority tribes include the Hajong, Koch, Rabha, Boro and Mann. Currently, the members of such unrepresented tribes are also nominated to the autonomous district councils.
• However,the sub-committee constituted by the Meghalaya government has decided to recommend to the Parliament the removal of the word unrepresented tribes from the proposed amendment of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India.

Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution:

• The Constitution of India makes special provisions for the administration of the tribal dominated areas in four states namely Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.
• As per article 244 and 6th Schedule,these areas are called “Tribal Areas”,which are technically different from the Scheduled Areas under fifth schedule.
• The Governors of these four states are empowered to declare some tribal dominated districts / areas of these states as autonomous districts and autonomous regions.
• It provides for the creation of autonomous District and Regional Councils in these tribal areas and they enjoy a certain degree of administrative, legislative, judicial and financial autonomy.