Promises and problems

The agreement to create a Bodoland Territorial Council, the second one of its kind to be formed, is received by various sections of Assamese people with both scepticism and hope. The note said: "The main provisions of the MoS relate to creation of an Autonomous self-governing body to be known as Bodoland Territorial Council within the State of Assam and provision of constitutional protection under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India to the said autonomous body; to fulfil economic, educational and linguistic aspirations.." It is interesting that the passage does not unambiguously state that the BTC, referred to as an `autonomous self-governing body' which, when the delimitation process is completed, is to comprise four contiguous districts, will be created under the provisions of the Sixth Schedule. As is well known, the Sixth Schedule, comprising "Provisions as to the administration of Tribal Areas in the States of Assam, Meghlaya, Tripura and Mizoram", is in practice applicable only to the so-called Hill Tribes in these States, that is, tribal people inhabiting the hilly regions of the northeastern region, known historically under colonial administration as `excluded', or `partially excluded' areas. The Sixth Schedule is not applicable to the tribal people living outside these Hill areas, the so-called `Plains Tribes', who are not seen to be dwelling in any compact `tribal area', but are rather loosely spread among other non-tribal people in the plains of the northeastern region. At present, Part I comprises the two Hills districts of Assam ; Part II comprises the Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills and Garo Hills districts, all once part of Assam and now constituting Meghalaya; a sub-section under this head is the Tripura Tribal Areas District, incorporated under the 49th Amendment, part of the process to provide greater autonomy to the tribal people of Tripura living in the `hill areas' of the State; and Part III comprises the Chakma, Lakher and Pawi districts, all part of the erstwhile Lushai Hills District when it was a part of Assam and now part of Mizoram.