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Tribals seek 6th Schedule Constitutional Status
Cutting across Telangana, Rayalaseema and Andhra regions, the Adivasis have decided to demand the Central government for Sixth Schedule Constitutional status to all scheduled areas coming under the Andhra Pradesh State. Several tribal rights organisations, who had participated in the discussions on ‘the spate of tribal areas after the bifurcation of the State’ on Saturday and Sunday, after much deliberations, came to a common opinion that the only way tribals can achieve self-determination is through self-governance in their areas.
- Plan to launch movement in September
- It would protect their lands and culture
Hyderabad: Cutting across Telangana, Rayalaseema and Andhra regions, the Adivasis have decided to demand the Central government for Sixth Schedule Constitutional status to all scheduled areas coming under the Andhra Pradesh State. Several tribal rights organisations, who had participated in the discussions on ‘the spate of tribal areas after the bifurcation of the State’ on Saturday and Sunday, after much deliberations, came to a common opinion that the only way tribals can achieve self-determination is through self-governance in their areas.
Speaking to the media persons, the steering committee of tribal activists from various organisations, laid out their plans for launching a massive campaign from the first week of September, to take the cause to grassroot levels and create a continuous tribal movement until their demands for self-governance are met.
Presently, there are about 1,504 scheduled villages in Telangana region (including Bhadrachalam tribal areas) and 4,444 scheduled villages in Seemandhra. If Bhadrachalam is brought under Andhra region, after bifurcation, Telangana will be left with only 1,000 scheduled villages. The recent developments on the political front have raised discussions on how to divide the geographical area and sharing of water, jobs, revenue and others. Opinions of various communities are being taken into consideration. However, the Adivasi communities feel that bifurcation or non-bifurcation, their fate is not going to change. The steering committee would take up issues like non-implementation of 5th schedule constitutional status; non-implementation of the Scheduled Areas Act which gives gram sabhas powers to decide on the projects and development in scheduled areas. The gram sabhas which were set up for taking the opinions of the locals have become ineffective and several human rights violations in agency areas continue to happen.
The tribals feel that the only way forward after the bifurcation is to achieve the sixth schedule status for scheduled areas according to the constitutional provisions. This would give them autonomy and would safeguard their customs and culture. This status will also give discretionary powers to the district and regional councils to make laws, appoint members, and in the establishment and management of primary schools, dispensaries, markets, cattle pounds, ferries, fisheries, roads, waterways, regulation of money lending and trade by non-tribals, assessment and collection of land revenue, imposition of taxes on profession, trade, employment, animals, vehicles, carts, tolls, markets etc.
The laws passed by the State legislature may be applied to the District Councils with or without modifications. But the State legislature does not have the power to make laws on any subject allotted to the District Councils or Regional Councils. The Governor has the discretionary power to amend, suspend an act or resolution of a District or Region Council if it could endanger the safety and security of the Government of India.
