ADCs still relevant

 “As of now the tribal population in the state are still in the majority, hence, the creation of ADCs is relevant and deserves its continuity. It is a fact that there is no ADC in areas where there is no tribal area and where the population of the tribal area is negligible,” Chyne said while reacting to a statement made by Congress legislator David Nongrum on the relevance of the ADCs in the state.

He said in the past few years, many indigenous tribal of India has demanded inclusion in the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution and there are movements in West Bengal demanding for the creation of Gorkhaland Autonomous District Council.

He pointed out that the union territory of Ladakh also demands for the creation of an Autonomous District Council and in fact, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribe has recommended for the creation of an Autonomous District Council under the Sixth Scheduled for the Union Territory of Ladakh.

Recently the legislative Assembly of Arunachal Pradesh has passed a resolution to include the whole of Arunachal Pradesh under the Sixth Schedule.

It is important to mention that the Union Territory/State mentioned above are predominantly tribal population Union Territory and State respectively, he said.

In so far as the KHADC is concerned, Chyne said the pay and allowances are met from its own resources and revenue and it does not depend on the government for meeting its administrative requirements.

He said Paragraph 9 of the Sixth Schedule provides for a share on the royalty on the shares accruing out of Major and Minor Minerals.

As per the existing arrangement, the agreed ratio of shares is 60:40 (60 to the KHADC and 40 to the Government) in major and minor minerals and as per Order of the Governor under Paragraph 9 (2) dt. 14’02.1995 the share on coal has been fixed at 75:25 in favour of the Government.

Further, the KHADC chief also said even though the ADC’s are also empowered to levy and collect Taxes on Profession, trades, callings and employments,  taxes on animals, vehicles and boats,  taxes on entry of goods into a market, etc, but the KHADC did not erect and gate for any collection of toll or taxes on the National Highway other than Forest Beats and Range Offices to check illegal movement of timber and other forest produces.

By Our Reporter