by Anup Biswas
Haflong: In protest against the imposition of Panchayati Raj System (GPDP) in Dima Hasao under sixth schedule area and the farmer’s produce’s trade and commerce bill 2020, farmer’s empowerment and protection agreement, the Youth Congress, Mahila Congress, and Minority Department, Dima Hasao observed black Day on Friday.
They also staged Dharna in front the office of the Deputy Commissioner from 11 am today shouting slogans like BJP Go Back, Go Back etc.
Later they submitted a memorandum to Sri Sarbananda Sonowalji, Chief Minister of Assam
Dispur, Assam through the Deputy Commissioner, Dima Hasao against the intended move to extend certain features of Panchayati Raj System to the sixth schedule areas and against the three contentious farm Bills introduced by the NDA Government.
The memorandum maintained that the frontal units of Dima Hasao District Congress Committee like District Youth Congress Committee, District Mahila Congress Committee and Minority Department would like to bring before your benign authority the following political issues which pertain to Dima Hasao district with a hope that you would kindly peruse the points minutely.
On this day i.e the 25th September, 2019 the Chief Executive Member (CEM), North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC) had given his consent for the implementation of Gaon Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) in various development blocks under the NCHAC without having due regard to the Constitutional restriction for extension of Panchayati Raj System to the Sixth Schedule areas. The unwise action initiated by the CEM, NCHAC does not connive but stood in stark contrast with the constitutional provision as enshrined under Article 243 M (1) which provides for exemption of Schedule Areas and Tribal Areas referred to in Clause (1) and (2) of Article 244 from application of the provisions of Panchayati Raj System.
And whereas the GPDP, being a basic features of Panchayati Raj System, cannot be extended to the Sixth Schedule areas and for this reason the intended move was widely and severely opposed by all the stakeholders ranging from political parties, Apex Bodies, Students’ organizations, Civil Societies, NGOs etc. in all parts of the district. The protesting groups demand to safeguard the autonomy provided under the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India and urge the ruling dispensation of NCHAC to do away with the Panchayati Raj System thereby immediately halting all functions relating to GPDP at all development blocks and thus maintain status quo. While the protest grew louder the ruling dispensation was compelled to halt all activities under GPDP and consequent to which the Executive Committee (EC), NCHAC thereby issued an office memorandum and construed that a Constituency Development Plan (CDP) in lieu of GPDP shall be instituted. Hence, the furtherance of opposition to GPDP was stop forthwith in good faith.
However, despite a passage of considerable lapse of time the present EC, NCHAC is yet to bring legislation in the Council session or compiled a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in respect of formulation and execution of CDP. Moreover, the concern State Department had neither issued any guidelines for the same. And it is weird and uncanny how the CDP functions without any legislation or any approved SOP.
Having regard to the dilly dally tactic of the NCHAC and the state it would not be wrong to assume that the intention to extend certain features of Panchayati Raj system to the Sixth Schedule areas is indeed being devised and in this respect the connivance of both the Council and the state cannot be ruled out. And to state that such assumption does hereby raised apprehension in the minds of all indigenous tribes that the intended move is to undermine the executive powers provided to the Council by the Constitution. However, it is to be noted that in the event of such exercise or to put effect any unconstitutional plan to destabilize the working of NCHAC, a democratic protest will once again emerge loud and high from all corners of the district and such conspiracy will be defeated at all cost.
Therefore, considering the objectives of the framers of the Constitution of India while incorporating Sixth Schedule to the constitution it must be borne in minds that extension of certain features of Panchayati Raj System to the Sixth Schedule areas will destroy the tradition of self governance of the indigenous tribal communities which the Constitution mandates for its preservation and conservation as well. And similarly it must be precisely comprehended that such move in no way will facilitate rapid development at grass root level in the district.
Whereas the enhancement of executive powers of the Autonomous Council and provision of bigger opportunity to play more significant role in removing backwardness of the district shall bring our district on par with other developing districts.
Furthermore having regard to the three controversial agricultural Bills which have sparked protest across the country introduced by the NDA Government at the centre we would like to put forth similar demands as raised by our parent organization at the center in the interest of farmers all over India. That the government should bring a bill which ensures that private players do not procure food grains below a minimum support price (MSP) fixed by the Government, the
MSP has to be based on the recommendations of the MS Swaminathan committee report and the Food Corporation of India should ensure that crops are procured from the farmers at the fixed MSP.