প্রতিধ্বতি the Echo A journal of Humanities & Social Science Published by: Dept. of Bengali Karimganj College, Karimganj, , Website: www.thecho.in Decentralization under the 6th Schedule of the Indian Constitution: A Study in the Context of Lutfur Rahman Choudhury Research Scholar, Dept. of Political Science, Assam University, Campus, Diphu Karbi Anglong , Assam Abstract The literal meaning of decentralization is transferring of decision making powers and functions to the local bodies with a view to inject greater degree of efficiency in administration. The Panchayats as the means of rapid socio- economic development of rural areas has been in operation in different parts of India including in the plain districts of Assam. However, in the hill states of the North East and in the hill districts of the present Assam, the implementation of the concept of Panchayati Raj can hardly be imagined as almost all the hill tribes of the region live a nomadic life changing their habitat after frequent intervals. To suit the needs and aspirations of the hill tribes of the North East India, the 6th Schedule has been inserted in the Indian Constitution which provides a decentralized administration to the hill tribes including the Karbis of the present Karbi Anglong district of Assam. The provisions of decentralization provided under the 6th Schedule of the constitution have been able to fulfill the hopes and aspirations of the people of Karbi Anglong district of Assam to a certain extent but still a lot more needed to be done in this regard. Based on primary and secondary data, the paper studies the provisions of decentralization for the Karbi Anglong district under the 6th Schedule of the Indian constitution and assesses performance of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) in terms of development.

Introduction: With the glorious fulfilling the wishes and aspirations triumph of democracy over all other of the people and as a road to political systems as a means of speedy development, the concept of Volume-II, Issue-I July 2013 90 প্রতিধ্বতিthe Echo ISSN: 2278-5264 decentralization has achieved district planning. As an effective renewed dynamism and popularity form of spatial planning, the district in the political circle of world. planning becomes a viable Decentralization is now considered instrument for the regional as an important requisite for a disparities and consequently an strong and vibrant democracy effective means of the overall where the citizens are expected to development of the rural areas play an active part in the process of .From the close association with the governance. In the developing people of a particular area a detailed world particularly with a understanding not only of their democratic system behind it, needs, but also of the long term decentralization is seen as a magical potentialities of that area can easily instrument to bring about be found out. The planning of this development involving the local potential development can be citizenry. carried out in a greater detail and The literal meaning of with a great deal of more decentralization is transferring of understanding of the people of the decision making powers and area who are particularly and functions from the central or state primarily concerned with its governments to the local bodes with welfare. In 1962 one UN study a view to transform the society and termed that the “Decentralization of inject a greater degree of efficiency. government relieves members of the Democratic decentralization seeks legislature and of national to associate peoples participation in executive from involvement in many the decision making process at the purely local issues , frees key grass roots level. Decentralization officials from onerous and detailed both political and administrative is tasks and increases the speed and the means of promoting people‟s effectiveness of the administration participation and cooperation in the at all levels; decentralization is process of democratic development. essentially important in developing There exists a triangular countries where rapid expansion of relationship between public services greatly increases the decentralization, democracy and number of government transactions development .One of the most and consequently the hindrances important reasons for and wasted efforts resulting from decentralization is to develop more over centralization of controls.”1 effective popular participation in Objectives of the paper: local affairs including activities of The main objectives of the study central and state governments that are as follows:- are carried out locally. There 1. To study the provisions of operates a close nexus between decentralization for the Karbi democracy, decentralization and Anglong district of Assam Volume-II, Issue-I July 2013 91

প্রতিধ্বতিthe Echo ISSN: 2278-5264 provided under the 6th Schedule identifying the needs and of the Indian constitution. preferences of the people through 2. To study the background and their direct participation in plan necessity of the 6th Schedule of formulation and implementation. It the Indian constitution. is particularly expected to empower 3. To assess actual performance of the weaker sections mainly the Karbi Anglong Autonomous comprising of the Scheduled Castes Council (KAAC) in terms of (SC) and the Scheduled Tribes (ST) development. and overcome the domination of the Methodology: While preparing this elites in the political scene of the paper, both the primary and country at least a certain extent. secondary data were used. The It is important to note that primary sources of data included the decentralized administration in the official records and data collected form of local bodies like the from the Karbi Anglong Panchyats have deep roots in Indian Autonomous Council (KAAC), the soil. We get numerous references Memorandum of Understanding about Panchyats in Manusmriti, (MoU) of 1995 and the Mahabharata and Arthasastra which Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) testify that village has been a basic 2012 which have conferred more unit of administration since earliest powers to the Karbi Anglong times. These Panchayats were Council. The Secondary data largely free from the state included the various books related interferences and were mainly with the topic of the study. concerned with the administrative Decentralization in India: As far and judicial work at the village as India is concerned, democratic levels. Their working was so decentralization seems to be the efficient that every village only medium of progress and community was a sort of small prosperity as more than 70% of its republic. During the Muslim rule people live in nearly six lakh also the system continued to operate villages.2 With the time and unobstructed and exercised population growth, the state in India influence in various spheres of is increasingly faced with varied human life. Sir Charles Metcalf, the problems like widespread Provincial Governor General of unemployment, poverty and disease India (1835-36) goes to the extent and administration crippled and of saying, “They (village ineffective because of its inherent communities) seem to last where maladies, decentralization is nothing else lasts. Dynasties tumble seemed an effective answer to all down, revolution succeeds such deep-rooted problems faced by revolution. Hindu, Pathan, Moghul, the country. The policy of Maratha, Sikh and English- all are decentralization expected to help in masters in turn but the village Volume-II, Issue-I July 2013 92

প্রতিধ্বতিthe Echo ISSN: 2278-5264 communities remain the same.”3. In different parts of India including the the post independence period the plain districts of Assam. However, Indian state under constitutional in the hill states of the North East as directive given under Article 40(To well as in the hill districts of the organize village Panchayats and present Assam, the implementation endow them with such powers and of the concept of Panchayati Raj authority as may be necessary to can hardly be imagined. From the enable them to function as units of time immemorial, the tribes living self-government) made concerted the hills of North East India lived a efforts towards the process of nomadic life in search of new hills democratic decentralization. On 12th for jhum cultivation which was the January 1958, the National sole means of their livelihood. As Development Council endorsed the these hill tribes did not live in recommendations made by Balwant cluster villages and a tribal village Rai Mehta Committee on sometimes consisted merely two or democratic decentralization which three households with a migratory paved the way for the establishment nature in itself, the concept of of Panchayati Raj system in the Panchayati Raj for these hill tribes country. It was in 1959 that was neither viable nor imaginable. Panchayati Raj, as modeled on the The framers of the constitution recommendations of Balwant Rai therefore conceptualized a different Mehta committee was first form of deccentralisased introduced in Rajasthan and by administration for the hill tribes of 1968, almost all the states of the the North East in the form of the Indian union had introduced it in District Councils under the 6th their respective areas. The 73rd Scheduled of the constitution. This constitutional Amendment Act of paper will try study the system of 1992 further revamped the decentralization as provided under Panchyati Raj system in the country the Scheduled Six of the Indian and tried to ensure its regular, active constitution with reference the and efficient working in the rural Karbi Anglong district of present areas and enable it to help the Assam and also the role of this process of rapid socio-economic unique experiment towards the development of rural India. development of the district. Decentralization in the hills of Historical background of the 6th North East India under Schedule Schedule: The origin of process of Six of the Constitution: The the decentralization of Panchayats as a tool of administration for the tribals decentralized governance and as a inhabiting in the hills of the then means of the rapid socio-economic Assam can be traced back to the pre development of the rural India has independent period. When the proved to be quite a success in process of annexation of the hills Volume-II, Issue-I July 2013 93

প্রতিধ্বতিthe Echo ISSN: 2278-5264 were completed, the British officials were Balipara, Sadiya and realizing the independent and Lakhimpur Tracts inhabited by virile nature of the hill tribes of tribes in the early stage of the hills preferred not to interfere development. The administration of much in their traditional method of these Areas did not fall under the administration and decided to leave jurisdiction of the provincial them as much free as possible in government and they were under the domain of administration. There the direct control of the Governor of was a difference in the Assam. administration of the plains and the On the eve of independence, hills. In the hill areas, there was the Cabinet Mission which came to minimum administration and India to facilitate the smooth minimum interference with the transfer of power to the Indians powers and functions of the chiefs, made special recommendations for village organizations and local the administration of the tribal areas authorities. The accepted official under the new administrative setup view of the British was that the of would be independent India. Hills and Plains of Assam could The Mission suggested that in never co-exist as a single entity.4 influential committee should be set The British realized that the up to make proposals for the complicated procedure adopted for administration of the tribal areas. the administration of the plains Accordingly, the Constituent were unsuitable for the hills and Assembly which was vested with under different Acts that were the responsibility of framing a new passed from time to time the policy Constitution of free India set up an of minimum interference in the hills Advisory committee in terms of was followed. Cabinet Mission settlement of 24 The Sixth Schedule of January 1947. This Committee Government of India Act of 1935 appointed a Sub-Committee, known classified the tribal areas of the then as the North-East Frontier (Assam) Assam in to three parts, namely, Tribal and Excluded Areas Excluded, Partially Excluded and committee with Gopinath Bordoloi Frontier Areas. The Excluded Areas as its Chairman. The Sub- were the Naga Hills, the Lushai Committee co-opted two members Hills and the North Cachar Hills. from each of the hill district they The Partially Excluded Areas were visited. The Bordoloi Sub- Garo Hills, the Mikir Hills Commiittee visited different tribal (presently Karbi Anglong) and the dominated areas of the region and British portions of the Khasi and after prolonged deliberations with Jayantia Hills other than the the representatives of the different Shillong Municipality and tribal groups suggested special Cantonment. The Frontier areas status for the hill tribes of the then Volume-II, Issue-I July 2013 94

প্রতিধ্বতিthe Echo ISSN: 2278-5264 Assam and the decentralization of provisions of the hill tribes of the powers to these tribal areas in the then Assam, Dr. Ambedkar viewed form of the District Councils. The that there is a difference between Sub-Committee recommended that the tribals in Assam and the tribals the hill districts shall be classified of other places. The tribals in places in to two, autonomous and non other than Assam were more or less autonomous areas. The autonomous Hinduised and assimilated with the districts were the Khasi and culture and civilization of the Jayantia Hills, district excluding the people among whom they lived. town of Shillong , the Garo Hills This was not the case with regard to district , the Lushai Hills district, the tribals of Assam. They did not the Naga Hills district,the North adopt the mode life and manners of Cachar sub-division of the then their neighbors.6 He therefore Cachar district and the Mikir( now strongly felt the need of special Karbi) Hills portion of then protection for these tribes and Nowgong and Sibsagar district. The decentralization of powers to them. Drafting Committee and the Decentralization vis-à-vis Karbi Constituent Assembly accepted the Anglong district: suggestions and accordingly all the The Karbi Hills, politically above mentioned tribes were given known as Karbi Anglong is one of special status as Hills tribes under the two Hills districts of present Schedule Sixth of the constitution Assam, the other being the N.C. of independent India. All these Hills (Presently Dima Hasao). The tribes now enjoy the status of ST Karbis, formerly known as the (Hills) under the constitution which Mikirs are the major community of has proved to be great safeguard not the district of Karbi Anglong and only for the preservation of the the district is in fact named after tribal identity and culture but also them. The Karbis call themselves as for the socio- economic the „Arleng‟ which means „man‟. development of these tribes. The They belong to the Mongoloid most remarkable thing about the racial stock ethnically; while Bordoloi Report was the skill with linguistically they belong to the which the Sub-Committee sought „Tibeto-Burman‟ group. Though reconcile the hill people‟s demand mainly found in the district of Karbi for political autonomy with Assam Anglong, the Karbis also reside in Government‟s drive to integrate the district of N.C. hills, beside in them with the plains.5 Dr. some parts of Golaghat, Nagaon, B.R.Ambedkar, the Chairman of the Kamrup districts and also in small Drafting Committee was a great pockets of Meghalaya and protagonist of the inclusion of the Arunachal Pradesh. They are also Sixth Schedule in the constitution. one of the major constituents of the While debating the special tribal population of North-East Volume-II, Issue-I July 2013 95

প্রতিধ্বতিthe Echo ISSN: 2278-5264 India in general and Assam in the United People‟s democratic particular. Solidarity (UPDS) which was in At the beginning, i.e. in 1951, ceasefire with the government and when the districts were carved out was in negotiations with the central (vide Govt. letter no- government for an autonomous TAD/R/31/50/151, dt-13.4.51) were State, the Karbi Anglong known as United Mikir and North Autonomous Council (KAAC) was Cachar Hills. The political region, further given the status of so created earlier included parts of Territorial Council and renamed as the then Cachar, United Khasi and Karbi Anglong Autonomous Jayantia Hills, Nagaon and Territorial Council. Of course the Shivsagar District. The District was implementation of the provisions of granted a District Council under the the agreement will require the 6th Schedule of the Indian amendment of the provisions of the constitution on June 23rd 1952. The constitution. present Karbi Anglong by then was Powers of the District Council: a sub-division, namely, the Mikir Under the Sixth Schedule of the Hills and this was further upgraded constitution, the Karbi Anglong and renamed as Mikir Hills district District Council like other District with a full-fledged District Council Councils of the region under the in the year 1971 by separating same Schedule was a corporate North Cachar (presently Dima body, having perpetual succession Hasao district) from it. Since 1976, and a common seal with the right to the name of the district was sue and be sued. The Council changed to Karbi Anglong. Again consisted of both elected and in the year 1995, the Autonomous nominated members (appointed by District Council was upgraded to the Governor) and the strength of Karbi Anglong Autonomous the District council was increased Council (KAAC.) Again as a result within regular intervals to cope-up of the prolonged peace talks with with the requirement of the time.

The year wise strength of the Karbi Anglong District Council is given below:- Year Total membership Elected members Nominated members 1952 16 12 4 1957 16 14 2 1962 16 14 2 1970 24 20 4

As in the case of the other District Councils under the Sixth

Volume-II, Issue-I July 2013 96

প্রতিধ্বতিthe Echo ISSN: 2278-5264 Schedule, the Karbi Anglong Taxation Powers: The Karbi District Council was entrusted Anglong District Council had the with the following powers: power to asses and collect revenue , Legislative Powers: The Karbi levy a tax on the lands and Anglong District Council had the buildings , tolls on persons residing power to make laws on the within the district , tax on allotment , occupation or use or the professions , trades , calling and setting apart of land , other than employment , tax on the entry of reserved forests for the purpose of goods , taxes on the maintenance of grazing or for residential or other schools , dispensaries and roads , non agricultural purposes likely to licenses or leases for the purpose of promote the interests of the prospecting or for extracting inhabitants, management of any minerals . forest not being a state reserved The District Council also had the forest , the use of any canal or water right of a share in the royalties course for agricultural purposes, the derives by the state Government regulation of the practice of jhum or form the licences or leases granted other forms of shifting cultivation , for the purpose of prospecting or for the establishment of town or village extraction of minerals . The rate of councils and the determination of sharing is determined by mutual their powers and functions , any agreement by the parties concerned. other matter relating to village or Judicial Powers: The Karbi town administration including town Anglong District Council was also or village police ,public health and entrusted with certain judicial sanitation , the appointment or powers. The Council had and still succession of chief or headman , the has the power to constitute village inheritance of property ,marriage courts for the trial of suits and cases and divorce , social customs , in which both the parties are tribals. money lending and trading by It may appoint suitable persons to persons other than scheduled tribe. be the members of the village Executive powers: As regards the courts. It may also appoint such executive powers , Karbi Anglong officers as may be necessary for the District Council had the powers to execution of laws made by the establish , construct or manage District Council. The District primary schools, dispensaries , Council is a court of appeal in markets , cattle pounds, ferries , respect of all suits and cases triable fisheries , roads and waterways. It by the village council. No other also had the power to determine the court except the High Court and the language and the manner in which Supreme Court of India has primary education should be jurisdiction over such suits and imparted in the primary schools cases. within its jurisdiction. Volume-II, Issue-I July 2013 97

প্রতিধ্বতিthe Echo ISSN: 2278-5264 Functions Entrusted to District had no right to entrust these Council:When Meghalay was functions to the District Council granted Autonomous Statehood against its wish. under Article 244(A) of the Indian All together 16 development Constitution on 2nd April 1970, the departments were transferred to the Mikir Hills (now Karbi Anglong) District Council. These included- and North Cachar (now Dima agriculture , public works , flood Hasao) were given the option either control, minor irrigation, soil to remain in the state Assam or join conservation , animal husbandry, the state of Meghalaya . To retain diary & milk supply, forests, them within Assam, the fisheries, roads and buildings , Governmennt of Assam made general-education, cultural several costly promises. One of programme, water supply health them was the transfer of more and family planning social welfare functions and powers together with cottage industries , community necessary finance and personnel. In development programme and pursuance with this policy all the panchayat. The officers and staff of district development departments the transferred departments were together with their personnel and under the immediate administrative finance were placed under the control of the District council administrative control of the though they were the servants of the District council with effect from 1st State Government. June 1970 (Vide-Govt letter No District Council Finances: The TDR/R/153/70 Dated Shilllong the District Council derived its income 30th May, 1970).It should be noted from various sources, land revenue, that these functions were entrusted forests, administration of justice, to the District Council and not taxes on animals, vehicles and delegated to the District Council. If boats, taxations on professions, the District Council failed to trades, grants in aids from the discharge its duties these functions Governments, loans and market could be taken away at any time by taxes etc. the State Government. The District The major source of the District Council had no power to legislate Council was from forests which on these subjects. While performing were more than 65% of the total these functions, the District Council income. Another major source of had to act as the agent of the State income was from tax on entry of Government. The agent was to free goods in to the market for sale. The to act in the way it liked. So the grants were given for specific condition imposed indicates the purposes such as development of subordinate position occupied by roads and communications ,, the District council in regard to development of rural water supply , these functions. Again, that state rural communications , rural health Volume-II, Issue-I July 2013 98

প্রতিধ্বতিthe Echo ISSN: 2278-5264 and sanitation , maintenance of Powers of the KAAC: As per the elementary schools , improvement provisions of the MoU, the Karbi of transport facilities , improvement Anglong Autonomous Council of tribal culture and maintenance of along with its counterpart of the NC forest development schemes and so Hills was given additional on . executive, legislate and financial But, a time when the young powers – elements with high political Executive Powers: The KACC ambitions started to get prominence was given the executive authority in Karbi politics. Alleging apathy over 30 departments (including on the part of the State already existing 16 departments). Government towards the District These included, (1) industry (2) Council, these Young Turks of the animal husbandry (3) forest (4) Karbi Politics under the banners of agriculture (5) PWD (6) sericulture Autonomous State Demand (7) education from primary to Committee (ASDC-formed on 17th higher secondary level and adult May 1986) and Karbi Anglong and education (8) cultural affairs (9)soil NC Hills Autonomous State conservation (10) co-operation (11) demand Committee fisheries (12) panchayat and rural (KANCASDCOM-formed on 25th development including DRDA (13) May 1986) started demanding more handloom and textile (14) health decentralization of powers in the and family welfare (15) public form of autonomous statehood health engineering (16) irrigation under the provision of the Article (17) social welfare (18) flood 244(A) of the Indian Constitution control (19) sports and youth for Karbi Anglong and NC Hills. welfare (20) weight and measure The protracted autonomy movement (21) food and civil supplies (22) that followed in district culminated town and country planning (23) in to the signing of a Memorandum college education-general including of Understanding (MoU) between library services , district museum & the representatives of the agitating archeology (24) land reforms (25) parties of the district, the publicly/public relations (26) representatives of the State and printing and stationary (27) tourism central Government in New Delhi (28) transport (29) excise and (30) on 1st April 1995. The agreement finance including sales tax on followed with necessary purchase of goods other than news constitutional amendments papers , excise , professional tax. upgraded the Karbi Anglong Legislative Powers: The MoU of District Council (KADC) to Karbi 1995 vested legislative powers to Anglong Autonomous Council the KAAC on the following (KAAC). subjects in addition to the subjects already available to it under the Volume-II, Issue-I July 2013 99

প্রতিধ্বতিthe Echo ISSN: 2278-5264 Sixth Schedule of the Constitution - if for any reasons it becomes (1) industries (2) communication- necessary to do so, the Council roads, bridges, ferries and other would have to be consulted and means of communication not would have to be explained the specified in the list (3) preservation, reasons for the change7 protection and improvement of Karbi Anglong Autonomous stock and prevention of animal Territorial Council (KAATC): On diseases, veterinary training and 25th November 2011, the Karbi practice and cattle pounds (4) insurgent outfit United People‟s primary and secondary education Democratic Solidaritym (UPDS) (5) agriculture including which was pursuing peace agricultural education and research, negotiates with the Government protection against pests and after formally entering in a ceasefire prevention of plant diseases (6) agreement in 2006 singed a fisheries (7) water supplies, tripartite Memorandum of irrigation and canals, drainage and Settlement (MoS) with the embankments (7) social security representatives of the Central and and social insurance (8) flood State Governments in New Delhi. control schemes for protection of With a view to expedite process of village ,paddy fields , markets, town development in the district the etc.(not technical nature) (8) MoS has envisaged a new formula theaters and dramatic performance for more decentralization powers to (9) public health and sanitation, the Karbi Council by upgrading the hospitals and dispensaries (10) existing Karbi Anglong minor irrigation (11) trade and Autonomous Council(KAAC) to commerce and (12) libraries, Karbi Anglong Autonomous museums and other similar Territorial Council (KAATC) 8 institutions controlled and financed The MoS states that the by the state . “Government of India and the Financial Powers: As per the Government of Assam have been provisions of the MoU of 1995, the making persistent efforts to fulfill State Government before the the legitimate aspirations of the beginning of every financial year people of Karbi Anglong regarding has to give an indication to the all round development including Council of the overall financial preservation and promotion of their allocations for it. The Council will cultural identity and language, therefore prepare and pass its own while economically facilitating budget and forward it to the State devolution of the development Government for being included in process to bring the fruits of the overall State budget. Ordinarily education and economic no change is made in the budget as development to the people.” 9 proposed by the KAAC. However, Volume-II, Issue-I July 2013 100

প্রতিধ্বতিthe Echo ISSN: 2278-5264 As per the provisions of the storage ,water power up to 5 Mega MoS the existing Autonomous watt 14.Irrigation & Minor district under the 6th Schedule of the Irrigation , Canals , Drainage and Constitution will be reorganized in embankments 15. Social Welfare to four administrative districts for 16. Sports and Youth Welfare 17. better administrative and Weight & Measure 18. Food & developmental administration. The Civil Supplies 19. Agriculture, Proposed KAATC will have 50 including agriculture education & Members Council out of which 44 research, protection against pest & will be elected and 6 to be preservation of plant disease 20. nominated by the Governor of Publicty & public relation 21. Assam. The responsibility of Printing & Stationary 22. Tourism conducting the election of the 23. Urban Development –town and KAATC will be entrusted to the country planning 24. Tribal State Election Commission. The Research Institute –controlled and Chief and the Deputy Chief of the financed by the state government KAATC will have the status 25. Land & Revenue, Land equivalent to the Cabinet Minister Reforms 26. Planning & and other Executive Members will Development 27. Municipal have the status equivalent to the Corporation, Improvement Trust, Minister of State of Assam for District Boards and other local protocol purposes within the authorities 28. Welfare of Hill jurisdiction of the KAATC. Tribes 29. Markets & fairs The proposed KAATC will be 30.Lotteries 31. Stastistics vested with executive and legislate 32.Intoxicationg liquors, opium and powers on the following subjects-- derivatives 33. Labour and 1. Animal Husbandry & Veterinary employment 34. registration of 2. Forests ,other than reserved births and deaths 35. Industires – forests 3. PWD 4. Sericluture 5. small ,cottage & rural industry 36. Education – (a) primary and Transport 37. Flood control (not secondary (b) higher secondary technical nature ) 38. Theaters and including vocational training (c) dramatic performances, adult education (d) college entertainment and amusement 38. education (general) 6. Cultural Libraries, museums and other Affairs7 .Soil Conservation 8.Co- similar institutions controlled and operation 9.Fisheries 10. Panchayat financed by the state. Raj and Rural Development including DRDA 11. Handloom & Development provisions under Textile 12. Health and family the MoS: It is provided in the MoS Welfare, Public Health and that (A) Concerted efforts will be Sanitation, hospital and dispensaries made by the Government of Assam 13.PHE ,Water supply and water and State Government in Volume-II, Issue-I July 2013 101

প্রতিধ্বতিthe Echo ISSN: 2278-5264 collaboration with the KAATC to (C) Council will submit projects for improve the level of general and water supply to Diphu and other technical education including notified towns in Karbi Anglong medical education . An Engineering which will be considered College and a Medical College will expeditiously for be established in Karbi Anglong . 10 implementation. (B)Immediate up gradation of (D) A special economic package of district hospitals and PHCs will be Rs 350 Crores (Rs 70 crores per taken by the newly restructured annum) over and above the Plan authority with assistance from the fund over the next five years will Government of India and be provided to the KAATC to Government of Assam. (C) The undertake special projects that Government of India and the will be proposed by the Council . Government of Assam will It is also provided in the MoS encourage the KAATC to take up that the preparation of Five Year new projects in the area of Health plan and Annual Plan by the Care and Education including Council for all the subjects after professional and higher technical the proposed restructuring will be a education to achieve the potential of major exercise. To enable the Karbi Anglong emerging as a restructured Council to handle this regional healthcare and educational responsibility effectively, the State hub. Government Will initiate steps to In addition to the above make available adequate number of provisions, the MoS also contains experienced officers to the Council clause for additional economic for the purpose. Besides, the package meant for the proposed Ministry of Home Affairs shall co- KAATC. These include – ordinate the task of capacity (A)The Government will initiate building in the Council to deal steps for undertaking a feasibility effectively with enlarged study of a direct road link responsibilities relating to the between Diphu and Umpanai transferred subjects by imparting (both in Karbi Anglong) as a suitable training to officers and staff High Way linking NH-36 (Karbi of the Council. A sum of Rs 10 Anglong) and NH-44 crores will be made available as one (Meghalaya). time grant for the purpose. (B) Construction of roads for improvement of road A peep in to actual development connectivity in Karbi Anglong in Karbi Anglong: The main will be considered under existing purpose of decentralization of schemes in phased manner on powers under the provisions of the submission of Detailed Project Sixth Schedule of the Constitution Report (DPR) by the KAATC. was to ensure rapid socio-economic Volume-II, Issue-I July 2013 102

প্রতিধ্বতিthe Echo ISSN: 2278-5264 development of the hills areas of the nepotism and favoritism in the North Eastern region having any Council the achievement of the entirely rural background. It has KAAC in some of the fields of been more than sixty years that development can not be overlooked. Karbi Anglong has been entrusted It is a matter of common knowledge with the District Council and later that the roads in Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council. The time is district are far better than the roads more than sufficient to evaluate the of the plain districts of Assam. The achievement or failure of the NH-36 and NH-39 passing through experiment of decentralization in the district are glaring examples of terms of the development of the the better roads condition of the region. No doubt some concerted district , though the some roads efforts were made by the local particularly in Hamren sub-division government to expedite the process are still in dilapidated condition . of development in the district, the Apart from roads, Health and success of these efforts are often Educations are two of the important doubted, debated, propagated and indicator to assess the development many a time repudiated. Despite of any region. The following frequent allegations of wastage, records will give an idea in this mismanagement, corruption, regard-

List of Medical Institutions underJt. Director of Health Services, Karbi Anglong District – A Civil Hospital 2(two) B Community Health Centre or 30 Beded Rural 5(five) Hospital C Primary Health Centre 26(twenty six) D State Dispensary 7 (seven) E Subsidiary Health Centre 7(seven) F Leprosy Control Unit 2(two) G Medical Sub-Centre 9(nine)

As far as literacy filed is 5%. The record shows that over the concerned, as per the census record years the KAAC has done of 2011, the literary rate of the commendable work as far as the district is 73.52%. During the literary record in the district is census of 2001 the literary rate in concerned. A large number of the district was 58.63%. It may be educational institutions have been mentioned that when the district established even in the remotest was carved out in the year 1951, the corners of the district. The literary rate of the district was pity

Volume-II, Issue-I July 2013 103

প্রতিধ্বতিthe Echo ISSN: 2278-5264 following table bears a testimony in this regard –

List of Educational Institutions in Karbi Anglong – Edu institution Govt. Provincialized Recognized L.P.School 1413 29(Karbi Medium) M.E 14 172 140 High 1 77 194 H.S. 2 9 - College 1 5 5

All the recognized educational KAAC authorities. The authorities institutions receive regular financial at Diphu often attribute their assistance from the Karbi Anglong failures in implementing the Autonomous Council. The financial development of projects to the assistance is provided from the plan failure of the State Government in head of the KAAC. It may be noted releasing the fund for the KAAC at that in 2008, the KAAC undertook appropriate time. The district lags altogether four colleges of the far behind in terms of infrastructural district under the special deficit development despite possessing system of management and provide enormous potentialities in this salaries to the teaching and non regard. The untapped hydel power, teaching staff on a scale formulated mineral resources, virgin forests and by the KAAC for these colleges. water resources of the district could Coming to the question of have been utilized in a far better substantial development in the manner. district , a close observation gives Conclusion: It is often said that the impression that the decentralization of powers leads to decentralization of powers to the decentralization of corruption. Council authorities under the Karbi Anglong is not an exception provisions of the Sixth Schedule of in this regard. Mismanagement of the constitution has failed to fetch Council funds and flouting all desired dividends. The economy of government norms by the the district is still entirely dependent authorities in ensuring benefits to on the grants provided by the state the favorite sections are rampant in and the central government. The the KAAC. The huge inflow of complexity and dillydally by the funds for developmental purposes state government in releasing the seems to have given rise to a development funds meant for the contractorist culture with some district is often alleged by the people changing their destiny over

Volume-II, Issue-I July 2013 104

প্রতিধ্বতিthe Echo ISSN: 2278-5264 the night. Personal development But against all odds it must be rather than public development has accepted that decentralization is the assumed prominence among these not only the need of the time but it sections. The nexus between the is the lone way for involving the ruling clique and the contracturist tribal groups in the process of element has pushed the nation building and ensuring an developmental scenario of the equitable development of the district to the backburner to a great country as a whole. To check the extent .Another important factor different drawbacks of that has substantially affected the decentralization a proper check and development process in the district balance mechanism has to be is the vexed insurgency problem evolved instead of adopting a which brought a sense of insecurity centralizing tendency. The fact not only among the common people cannot be overlooked that but among officials related with the decentralization is the effective implementation of the development method of deconcentrated projects in the district. The officials administrative organ for relieving served with huge extortion demands administrative congregation, since by different insurgent groups often over centralized governance did not flee from the district hampering the have a way to find out what needs development projects to a to be done for different places and considerable extent. what needs and desires of the people are to be met.

Volume-II, Issue-I July 2013 105

প্রতিধ্বতিthe Echo ISSN: 2278-5264

References: 1. Biju, M.R. (Ed.) „Decentralisation –An Indian Experience’ National Publishing House, New Delhi, P-528 2. Ibid, P-529 3. Agarwal, R.C. „Indian Political System’ S.Chand and Company Ltd, New Delhi (1993), P-309 4. Rao, V.Venkata, „A Century of Tribal Politics in North East India’, S Chand and Company Ltd, New Delhi (1975), P-152 5. Chaube, S.K., „Hill Politics in North East India’ Orient Longman, New Delhi (1999), P-100 6. Barpujari,H.K., „North East India-Problems, Politics & Prospects’ Spectrum Publications(1998) ,Page -11 7. Section 3 .III of the Memorandum of Understanding of 1995 8. It will come in to force only after necessary Constitutional Amendment is affected in the 6th Schedule of the Constitution 9. Section 1.1 of Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) between Govt. of Indian, Govt. of Assam and the UPDS of 2011 10. Section 5.1 of the MoS between Govt. of India, Govt. of Assam and the UPDS of 2011

Volume-II, Issue-I July 2013 106