In a significant move addressing long-standing demands, the Central Government has decided to appoint an interlocutor to initiate a formal dialogue aimed at granting constitutional status to the autonomous councils of the Rabha, Mising, and Tiwa communities in Assam.
A Crucial Meeting Paves the Way
This pivotal decision was announced following a high-level meeting held on Thursday between delegations representing these indigenous communities and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The talks focused on the constitutional aspirations of these Scheduled Tribe groups and the path forward for their autonomous governance structures.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma welcomed the Centre's step, stating it was deeply reassuring. He emphasized that the assurance to appoint an interlocutor and begin an institutional dialogue underscores the central government's commitment to inclusive governance and protecting the constitutional rights of Assam's indigenous communities.
The Current Landscape of Autonomous Councils in Assam
Currently, Assam has three autonomous district councils that operate under the powerful Sixth Schedule of the Constitution: the Bodoland Territorial Council, the Karbi Anglong Autonomous District Council, and the Dima Hasao Autonomous District Council. These bodies enjoy extensive legislative, executive, and financial powers.
In contrast, the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC), the Tiwa Autonomous Council (Tiwashong), and the Mising Autonomous Council were established in 1995 under state acts. They remain statutory bodies with limited authority, primarily focused on the social, cultural, and economic advancement of their respective communities.
Scope and Challenges of the State Councils
The Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council covers 779 revenue villages across Goalpara and Kamrup districts. Its restricted powers have historically been a point of contention, leading to protests by the community seeking greater autonomy.
The Tiwa Autonomous Council serves the Tiwa (Lalung) community in central Assam, spanning 263 villages across several districts. Similarly, the Mising Autonomous Council, headquartered in Gogamukh, Dhemaji district, works for the socio-economic progress of the Mising (Miri) community across non-contiguous areas in multiple districts.
What the Interlocutor Move Signifies
The appointment of an interlocutor is viewed as a major institutional step towards addressing a decades-old demand. It formalizes the process of dialogue, moving the issue from mere political assurances to a structured negotiation. The ultimate goal is to elevate these three councils from their current statutory status to the more robust and constitutionally protected framework enjoyed by the Sixth Schedule councils in the state.
This development is seen as a direct response to the persistent advocacy by these communities for equal recognition and empowerment, aligning their administrative structures with the constitutional safeguards provided to other tribal groups in the Northeast.
