ABSTRACT
The Tribal Autonomous Councils (TACs) are constituted under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. They are local self-government institutions, mandated to protect and promote tribal/Adivasi interest and act towards the preservation of their culture and customs, including traditional tribal institutions. Today there are ten such autonomous councils spread over four Northeastern states - Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura. While these councils have been entrusted with legislative, executive, and judicial functions, they play a very limited role in promoting development in areas under their jurisdiction. This chapter examines the three issues that are responsible for the subdued development role of the councils - (1) limited development mandate, (2) low level of financial autonomy, and (3) failure of the councils to formulate legislations to protect economic interest of the Adivasis. Based on comparative analysis of the four states of the Sixth Schedule, the allocation of development functions to the councils among will be undertaken. This analysis will reveal whether the state governments have devolved some additional functions to the councils, whether the transfer of activities is limited to the implementation of specific programmes or not, and to what extent these councils are able to direct and control funds and functionaries.
Low financial autonomy of the councils will be examined by analysing the different sources of revenues of the councils, which shows a low contribution of own revenue and the financial dependence of the councils on the state governments. The third issue will be explored by highlighting the lack of actions taken by the councils to protect the economic interest of the Adivasis through enactment of appropriate legislations and their implementation over the years.
