ARUNACHAL STEPS UP TO PROTECT INDIGENOUS RIGHTS

The ruling government in Arunachal Pradesh recently came under the scanner when the Mon Autonomous Region Demand Committee (MARDC) reiterated its clarion call for the Mon Autonomous Region. Various civil society organizations and students' association were vocal against the demand, which, according to them would impact other communities and initiate division among the tribes of the state. The state government led by Chief Minister Pema Khandu has been widely criticized for its alignment towards a particular community and the resignation of the CM was also demanded. However, the state government in consultation with various groups is now vouching for the implementation of Sixth Schedule in the state, following which the state Assembly on August 27, passed a resolution to include the frontier state in the Sixth Schedule of Constitution and amend Article 371 (H) to protect the rights of its indigenous population. From the recent development, it can be assumed that the state is in the process of decentralization of power and empowering various tribes and communities in the state. Northeast Today reports

Demand for an Autonomous Council resurfaced

The push for the creation of the two autonomous councils-Mon Autonomous Council (MAC) which consists of the Tawang, West Kameng and part of East Kameng District and Patkai Autonomous Council (PAC) comprising the three Eastern districts of Tirap, Changlang and Longding, was raised 17 years back in 2004. Even though resolutions were passed in the state assembly in two separate occasions for the creation of the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs), things did not materialize.

The call for the long-pending demand for the creation of MAR resurfaced when on July 29, the MARDC submitted a memorandum to CM Khandu. According to the MARDC, the 17-year-old demand for creation of the MAR, which started in 2003, is still pending before the Government of India. The Committee further exhorted to strong views of the extreme necessity of the MAR and expressed displeasure over the inordinate delay of the Government in granting the Autonomous Region. The Committee urged for the immediate creation of the Autonomous Region, and to pursue the same vehemently with the State Government and the Government of India. It also emphasized to have tripartite talks of the Demand Committee with the State Government and the Centre at the earliest for the creation of the proposed Autonomous Region. The meeting then finalized a memorandum requesting the State Government to take up the long pending demand of MAR.

Countering the Demand for ADCs