With the polling for the Khasi and Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Councils (KHADC and JHADC) over and the fates of the candidates and parties sealed till counting day, it is an apt moment to ponder over what these councils mean for the future of the tribes of Meghalaya. Created under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, these councils are the embodiment of the vision that the Constituent Assembly members had for the tribal people of the north east region, at that time mostly passed off as Assam. The Sixth Schedule is one of the most impressive articles of protective discrimination. Termed as “a constitution within a constitution” it has ensured that the tribes hold the fundamental tool to safeguard their customs and practices, beliefs and religion, languages and traditional governance institutions. The councils have the power to legislate and make laws on these matters and make plans for the future progress of the tribes living under them.
There are 10 autonomous councils under the Sixth Schedule. These are in Assam, the North-Cachar Hills District Council now known as the Dima Hasao Autonomous Council, Karbi-Anglong District, Bodoland Territorial Council, Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), in Mizoram, the Mara, Lai and Chakma Autonomous council and the three in Meghalaya.
It is safe enough to say that despite being created under the same provisions of the Sixth Schedule, their functionality differs according to their context and more importantly, the leadership. Of all these, for example, the weakest in so far as operationalising the articles of the Sixth Schedule is concerned, is the TTAADC. This can be seen in the situation of the tribes in that state and their fast disappearing tribal commons and institutions. This is largely attributed to the context in the State in which the council has to operate in. This point is just being made to juxtapose the highly advantageous position that history has placed the three Autonomous Councils in Meghalaya. They are in a State which has a tribal majority of the same heritage as those whom the three councils work for, and geographically every inch of the State is covered by the provisions of the Sixth Schedule, except a portion called “normal areas” within what is known as the European Ward, which notably, the United Democratic Party (UDP), one of the parties in the fray, has demanded be brought under the Sixth Schedule and thereby the KHADC.
Despite the powers the councils wield, relatively weakened now, whittled down because of their own inability to govern as per the provisions of the laws of the land, the past members of the councils have only collectively exhibited their ineptness and extreme tardiness in understanding the role that the Sixth Schedule has marked out for them. Rather than being politicians, they are called upon to be visionary leaders who need to chalk out a map for the future of the tribes so that even though there are giant waves of changes hitting these shores, these new technology, modernity and globalization does not sweep away the tribal soul and leave them no different from the general community, whom they are trying so hard to stop from assimilating the hill people. The members of the councils cannot be on the same wave-length as the State’s Members of Legislative Assembly as their job profiles are innately different. One is to throw open the doors to any national and global changes and trade, while the other i.e. the council members’ terms of reference, is to be more conservative, so that they can continue to preserve the tribes’ customs, practices, culture, and the traditional institutions and seek out ways to improve them so that they will survive through to the next era. The hope is that this new batch which will be thrown up after this election will understand the onerous task laid out for them.
