Development as decentralised governance-the Assam experience

Largely unnoticed by even the vibrant media of the Northeast, the Government of Assam has been successfully implementing a novel scheme of decentralised governance to benefit every "distinct ethnocultural" group that might hold lessons for Eastern India and other parts as well.

- RANGAN DUTTA

Let us look at the facts. There are three areas of Assam under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution namely, Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao and Bodoland Territorial Region, where the Autonomous Councils function, exercising authority to enact land laws, levy taxes, fees and tolls on buildings, vehicles, boats etc., and administer subjects listed in the Sixth Schedule. These elected autonomous district councils are legislative bodies enjoying the authority to make laws in respect of 10 subjects listed under paragraph 3 of the Sixth Schedule which extend to the regulation of trading by tribals in the area, inheritance of property, land and forests other than the reserved forests, establishment of village and town committees, regulation of shifting cultivation, any canal or watercourse; and adjudication of disputes by the council courts as per the customary tribal laws involving tribals covering a wide range of subjects. The Gauhati High Court is the appellate authority in all such cases. The fact that land and forests other than the Reserved Forests are "Council subjects" is seen as "the Government" by the inhabitants, as the Assam legislature cannot enact laws in respect of the District Council subjects.