The clamour for the invocation of Article 244A to establish an autonomous state within Assam has gained momentum recently. The central government is being urged to carve out an autonomous state specifically for the Karbi Anglong region, a demand that has been existent since 1986. Presently, the governance of these districts falls under two autonomous councils – Karbi Anglong and North Cachar hills.
Understanding Scheduled and Tribal Areas
Scheduled Areas refer to territories inhabited by socially and educationally backward Aboriginals. Administration of these Scheduled and Tribal Areas is managed under two schedules in the Indian Constitution – the 5th and 6th Schedules. These schedules detail the control and management mechanisms in place for these specific areas.
Fifth Schedule of the Indian Constitution
The Fifth Schedule addresses the administration and control of Scheduled and Tribal Areas in all states except Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. At present, ten states including Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Telangana have Fifth Schedule Areas.
Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution
The Sixth Schedule, on the other hand, deals with the administration and control of Scheduled and Tribal Areas in the four states exempt from the Fifth Schedule, namely Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.
Scheduled and Tribal Areas in the Indian Constitution
The Indian Constitution outlines provisions for Scheduled and Tribal Areas in two articles. Article 244 deals with the administration of these areas, defining them as regions designated by the President of India and included in the fifth schedule of the Constitution.
In contrast, Article 244A discusses the formation of an autonomous state encompassing certain tribal areas in Assam. It further considers the creation of a local legislature, Council of Ministers, or both.
The implementation of Article 244A in Assam will involve the formation of an autonomous state within the existing state boundary – an idea that has been promoted to cater to the unique sociocultural and administrative needs of the region’s aboriginal tribes. By fostering local governance structures tailored to meet these specific needs, this historic demand can be fulfilled, leading to a more inclusive and representative form of governance.
Nonetheless, the road toward achieving this end is ridden with complex challenges of ethnic diversity, administrative practices, and historical biases. The successful establishment of an autonomous state in Assam will necessitate a delicate balancing act, ensuring that the unique tribal cultures thrive while fostering a sense of collective Assamese identity and maintaining political stability.