Autonomous administrative divisions of India

There were several autonomous administrative divisions of India to which the central government has given varying degrees of autonomy within the state legislature. The establishment and functions of most of these autonomous councils are based on the sixth schedule to the Constitution of India.[1]

In Assam

In Assam there are 9 Autonomous Councils under Sixth-Schedule of Indian Constitution. Apart from these, there are 31 Development Councils formed by the Government of Assam for development and upliftment of ethnic communities of the state.

The 31 Development Councils are:

Adibashi, Amri Karbi, Barak Valley Hills Community, Barman Kachari, Bishnupriya Manipuri, Chutia, Ex-Tea Garden Community, Garia, General Castes, Gorkha, Hajong, Hindibhasi, Kachari, Karbi, Koch, Kumar, Madahi, Manipuri, Maria, Matak, Mech Kachari, Moimal, Moran, Nath Jogi, Rajbongsi, Saodang, Sarania, Scheduled Castes, Singphu, Sut and Tai-Ahom Development Council.

The 9 Autonomous Councils are:

Bodoland Territorial Council

The Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) has legislative, administrative, executive and financial powers over 40 policy areas in the Bodoland Territorial Areas Districts comprising 4 Administrative Districts as- Udalguri, Baksa, Chirang, Kokrajhar and 40 Elected Representatives to the BTC Legislative Assembly and provisions for 6 Nominated Members to be nominated by the Governor of Assam from the unrepresented communities in the BTCLA through direct election in the districts of Assam. It was established in 2003 following a peace agreement between the Government of India and Bodo rebels and is functioning since 2003 under the provision of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India. The first Chief Executive Member of the BTC was Hagrama Mohilary. Its predecessor body Bodoland Autonomous Council was functional with lesser power.

Its headquarters is Kokrajhar in Kokrajhar district.

Deori Autonomous Council

The council area is scattered in medium/small villages/parts of villages/settlements in seven upper Assam Districts namely Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Sonitpur, Jorhat, Sibsagar, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia where the Deori community is situated.[2]

Its headquarter is North Lakhimpur in Lakhimpur district

Dima Hasao Autonomous District Council

The Dima Hasao Autonomous District Council (DHADC) is an autonomous council constituted under the provisions of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India to administer the district and to develop the Dimasa people.

Its headquarter is Haflong in Dima Hasao district.

Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council

The Karbi Anglong Autonomous District Council (KAADC) is an autonomous council in the district constituted under the provision of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India for the development of Karbi people.

Its headquarter is Diphu in East Karbi Anglong district.

Mising Autonomous Council

The Mising Autonomous Council (MAC) was constituted by the Government of Assam in 2005. It was constituted for all round development in the area of economic, educational, socio-cultural and ethnic identity of Mising people residing in the council area.

Its headquarters is Gogamukh in Dhemaji district.

Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council

An Autonomous Council have been constituted under the style "Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council" (RHAC) The jurisdiction of this council extends up to Rani area of Kamrup district and except some parts of Matia, Balijana and Lakhipur revenue Circles, it embraces almost the entire district of Goalpara. The autonomous council has been created to fulfill the longstanding demands of the Rabha people of the area. However, as the council is constituted only for the Rabhas, other Tribals like the Bodos, Garos, Kochs, Rajbongsis and others who constitute more than half of the population of Hasong area have been left out from the benefit of the council. As a result of this, there is a growing demand for Autonomous district council comprising all Tribal groups of these areas.[3]

Its headquarter is Dudhnai in Goalpara district.

Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council

The Sonowal Kachari Accord was signed on 4 March 2005 between the Government and four signatory organizations of the community – All Assam Sonowal Kachari Students’ Union, All Sonowal Kachari Jatiya Parishad, Sonowal Kachari Yuva Parishad and Sonowal Kachari Autonomy Demand Committee. Subsequently, the Gazette Notification was made, under Assam Act XX of 2005, on 11 May 2005, as ‘Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council Act, 2005’ providing for the establishment of an administrative authority in the name and style of "Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council". Oath taking by its thirty Members was concluded on 25 September 2005.

Its headquarter is Dibrugarh in Dibrugarh district.

Thengal Kachari Autonomous Council

Established on 10 August 2005 under Thengal Kachari Autonomous Council Act, 2005 of government of Assam for the overall development of the Thengal Kachari community.[4]

Its headquarter is Titabar in Jorhat district.

Tiwa Autonomous Council

The Tiwa Autonomous Council (TAC), was constituted by the Government of Assam on 14 April 1995, The Apex council will consist of 144 villages of Nagaon, Morigaon and Kamrup with 28 blocks.

The Tiwa Autonomous Council (TAC) will consist of 30 elected members out of which 4 will be nominated by the Government to give representation to the people of other community. Out of these 30 seats, 15 will be reserved for the Tiwa Community and 3 seats will b reserved for women.

Its headquarter is Tiwashong in Morigaon district.

In Manipur

Sadar Hills Autonomous District Council

Sadar Hills Autonomous District Council (SHADC) covers Saikul Subdivision, Saitu Subdivision and Sadar Hills West Subdivision in Senapati District of Manipur. It is one of the six autonomous district councils in Manipur state.

In Jammu and Kashmir

Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil

Kargil is a district of Ladakh, Kashmir, India. Kargil lies near the Line of Control facing Pakistan-administered Kashmir's Baltistan to the west, and Kashmir valley to the south. Following demands of Ladakhi people to make the district a new Indian union territory because of its religious and cultural differences with Kashmir. The government of India formed the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), which governs the area with limited autonomy.

Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh

Leh is one of the two districts of Ladakh. Following widespread agitations to make it a Union Territory of India due to the cultural and linguistic differences with Kashmir the government of India formed the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), which governs this area with limited political autonomy. The first elections for the LAHDC were held in the year 1995.

In Meghalaya

Garo Hills Autonomous District Council

The Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) is constitued for the development of Garo people and covers East Garo Hills district, West Garo Hills district, South Garo Hills, North Garo Hills district and South West Garo Hills district. It has headquarter in Tura.

Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council

The Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) is constituted for the development of Jaintia people. It has headquarter in Jowai and covers the Jaintia Hills district.

Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council

The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) is constituted for the development of Khasi people covers West Khasi Hills district, East Khasi Hills district and Ri Bhoi district, It has headquarter in Shillong.

In Mizoram

Chakma Autonomous District Council

Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC) is an autonomous council for the Chakma people living in the south-western part of Mizoram.

Lai Autonomous District Council

Lai Autonomous District Council (LADC) is an autonomous council for the Lai people in the South-eastern part of Mizoram.

Mara Autonomous District Council

Mara Autonomous District Council (MADC) is an autonomous council for the Mara people living in the Southern part of Mizoram.

In Tripura

Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council

The Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) is an independent council administering the tribal areas of the state of Tripura. Its council and assembly are situated in Khumulwng, a town 20 km outside Agartala, the state capital.

In West Bengal

Gorkhaland Territorial Administration

Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) is a semi-autonomous administrative body for the Darjeeling hills in West Bengal, India. The GTA replaced the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, which was formed in 1988 and administered the Darjeeling hills for 23 years.[5] GTA presently has three hill subdivisions Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Kurseong and some areas of Siliguri subdivision under its authority. It has headquarter in Darjeeling.[6]

De facto autonomous area

North Sentinel Island

North Sentinel Island is situated in the island chain of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands which is a union territory of India. It is home to the Sentinelese, who are some of the world's last uncontacted peoples. They reject any contact with other people and are among the last people to remain virtually untouched by modern civilization. There has never been any treaty with the people of the island nor any record of a physical occupation.

The local government (Andaman and Nicobar Islands) has recently[7] stated that they have no intention to interfere with the Sentinelese's lifestyle or habitat. Although the island is likely to have suffered seriously from the effects of the December 2004 tsunami, the survival of the Sentinelese was confirmed when, some days after the event, an Indian government helicopter observed several of them, who shot arrows at the hovering aircraft to repel it.

Although this has not been done with any formal treaty, the official policy of minimal interference has ensured that they have de facto autonomy and sovereignty over their island under the framework of the Indian and local governments.[8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ [Articles 244(2) and 275(1)]. Constitution of India.
  2. ↑ http://www.dacassam.org
  3. ↑ http://goalpara.gov.in/rabha_hasong.htm
  4. ↑ http://www.tkacassam.org Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine.
  5. ↑ "Gorkhaland Territorial Administration Agreement signed". Outlook. July 18, 2011. Archived from the original on 3 June 2012. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
  6. ↑ "Pact signed for Gorkhaland Territorial Administration". The Hindu. July 18, 2011. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
  7. ↑ The Sentineli Archived March 2, 2009, at the Wayback Machine..
  8. ↑ Administration in India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands has finally decided upon a policy of minimal interference
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