Why in News ?

Nine-member committee headed by Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein to meet all community-based organisations.

The Arunachal Pradesh government formed a nine-member committee to discuss and arrive at a possible solution to the issue of creation of two autonomous councils in the State.

What is the issue ?

• Regions under the Autonomous councils of Arunachal Pradesh are currently under the Fifth Schedule of Indian Constitution.
• This does not provide special rights for the indigenous communities as that of the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
• The autonomous councils in the sates are demanding to include Arunachal under the sixth schedule
• They want to make the Arunachal the owners of Natural resources rather than being protectors.
• Also, the Sixth Schedule will enable legitimate ownership making the indigenous communities self sufficient.
• Sixth Schedule status for entire Arunachal Pradesh to ensure equal rights and ownership of resources for all communities.

What is Sixth Schedule?

• The Sixth Schedule includes 10 autonomous district councils in 4 north eastern states.
• They are Assam, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Tripura. It seeks to safeguard the rights of the tribal population by forming Autonomous District Councils.
• It empowers Parliament to establish an autonomous State comprising certain tribal areas of Assam and for local Legislature or Council of Ministers or both can create.
• It provides the power of the enactment of autonomous district councils (ADCs) to protect the rights of tribal populations.
• Article 244A was added to the constitution through the 22nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1969.

Special Power of Governor in the Region

Governor can reorganise the area under the region for the better administration of the the autonomous district councils.

Source : The Hindu 

Topic

GS II : Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections