Mains Marathon

• Introduce contextually Sixth Schedule.
• Discuss rationale of including states under sixth schedule.
• Discuss issues in it.
• Conclude suitably.

Answer:

Recently there is a demand for including Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. The Sixth Schedule in the Indian Constitution under Article 244 deals with the administration and governance of certain tribal areas in the northeastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.

• The primary objective of the Sixth Schedule is to ensure the preservation of tribal customs, traditions, and way of life, while also promoting their overall development and welfare within the Indian federal system.
• The Sixth Schedule envisages the establishment of autonomous district councils and regional councils in these regions, giving them a degree of self-governance and autonomy.

Demand of some states:

• Preservation of Indigenous Culture: The demand for inclusion under the Sixth Schedule has been raised by tribal communities like Ladakh to safeguard their unique cultural heritage.
• Autonomy in Governance: The demand by the Gorkha community in Darjeeling, West Bengal, for inclusion under the Sixth Schedule to assert their distinct identity and govern their region autonomously.
• Protection of Land and Resources: States like Nagaland and Assam have demanded such inclusion to safeguard their lands from potential threats posed by developmental projects or land acquisitions.
• Recognition of Historical Identity: The demand by Ladakh for inclusion under the Sixth Schedule reflects their desire to assert their distinct historical and cultural identity.
• Preservation of Customary Laws: The demand by certain communities in Arunachal Pradesh to be included under the Sixth Schedule is driven by their desire to protect their traditional customs and practices.

Issues in fulfilling this demand:

• Complexity of Identity and Demographics: States with diverse communities and multiple tribal groups may face challenges in defining a unified identity for inclusion under the Sixth Schedule.
  • For example, in Manipur, different tribes with varied aspirations and demands have led to difficulties in arriving at a consensus for inclusion.
• Political Contestations: Fulfilling such demands can lead to political contestations and tensions among different communities and interest groups.
  • The demand for including the Bodo Territorial Region (BTR) in Assam under the Sixth Schedule has been a subject of political disputes and negotiations.
• Conflicting Developmental Agendas: The aspirations for inclusion under the Sixth Schedule may conflict with the central government's broader developmental agendas for the region.
  • For instance, the inclusion of certain areas in Meghalaya may affect the implementation of developmental projects in those regions.
• Land and Resource Management: Inclusion under the Sixth Schedule grants autonomy in land and resource management.
  • The inclusion demand in Tripura has raised issues related to land rights and resource management.
• Implications on National Integration: Fulfilling the demands for inclusion may have implications on national integration and territorial integrity.
  • For example, the demand for inclusion in Darjeeling, West Bengal, has raised concerns about its impact on the state's territorial unity.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs has reported that the tribal population in the Union Territory of Ladakh accounts for approximately 80% of the total population, as per the 2011 Census. The committee recommends considering the grant of special status (under the 5th/6th Schedule) to the Union Territory to address the developmental needs of the tribal population in the region.