NEW DELHI/SHILLONG: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved “landmark” amendments to Article 280 and the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution, which will not only improve the financial resources but also enhance administrative powers of the autonomous district councils in the northeastern states.
The Cabinet approved increase in seats in the autonomous administrative bodies, which from now on will be identified as territorial councils. In Meghalaya, the new names will be Khasi, Jaintia and Garo Hills autonomous territorial councils or KHATC, JHATC and GHATC.
In Khasi Hills, seats have been increased from 30 to 40, Jaintia Hills 30 to 34 and Garo Hills 30 to 42.
The decision to increase the number of seats comes at a time when Meghalaya is readying for the council elections scheduled for February 27. All political parties have started releasing their lists of candidates.
When contacted, District Council Affairs Minister Prestone Tynsong said the state will go ahead with the elections to the two district councils as “there has been no instruction from the central government”.
UDP president and Speaker Donkupar Roy echoed Tynsong saying the amendments have to go through a long process.
The Union Cabinet also approved reservation of at least one-third of seats for women in village and municipal councils in Sixth Schedule areas of Assam, Mizoram and Tripura and at least two of the nominated members will be women in all autonomous councils resulting in empowerment of women.
The proposed amendments provide for elected village and municipal councils ensuring grassroots democracy. The village councils will be empowered for preparation of plans for economic development and social justice including those in relation to agriculture, land improvement, implementation of land reforms, minor irrigation, water management, animal husbandry, rural electrification, small scale industries and social forestry.
However, for the time being, Meghalaya has been kept out of the purview of the provision for elected village and municipal councils and one-third reservation for women.
In the financial perspective, the Finance Commission constituted by Union Government will now be specifically mandated to recommend devolution of financial resources to the 10 autonomous territorial councils as well as the village and municipal councils in the scheduled areas.
“This will be a game changer as it will substantially enhance the funds available to these institutions of local governance for undertaking development works in the tribal areas under their respective jurisdiction,” Union Minister for IT, Law and Justice Ravi Shankar Prasad said.
The amendment also provides for constitution of State Finance Commissions in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura.
The amendments meet the long-standing demand of the councils and tripartite agreements signed with various insurgent outfits in the region in the past, Prasad said. The amendments will be placed in Parliament during the upcoming Budget session starting this month-end.
“The most important aspect 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 besides increasing the number of their seats,” he added.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, in his tweet, thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh for the “historic decision to approve constitutional amendment to substantially increase financial resources and other powers of autonomous councils in the Sixth Schedule areas the North East”.
KHADC meeting
KHADC Chief Executive Member HS Shylla will hold a meeting with MDCs on Friday to discuss the amendments passed by the Union Cabinet on amendment to the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
“The discussion will be on the views of the MDCs on the amendments to the Sixth Schedule. We will discuss what the MDCs think and then will inform the state government of the decision,” he said.
He said discussions will be on whether the MDCs would want to go ahead with the upcoming Council elections besides other issues.
There will be State Election Commissions for holding elections to the autonomous councils, village and municipal councils in the scheduled areas of Assam, Mizoram, Tripura and Meghalaya.
HIGHLIGHTS
q Change of names to Territorial Councils
q Increase in number of council seats
q Transfer of financial powers
q Improvement in administration
q Formation of State Finance Commission
q Amendment to fulfil demands of former militant
groups ANVC (Meghalaya), UPDS and DHD (Assam)
q Formation of State Election Commission to hold polls