Autonomous District Councils : Mass Migration
The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) recently flagged the “mass migration” of people from ethnic strife-torn Manipur to the State’s capital Shillong and adjoining areas.
Autonomous District Councils (ADC):
- The Sixth Schedule provides a list of ten tribal areas in Assam (3), Meghalaya (3), Tripura (1) and Mizoram (3).
- Each of these tribal areas constitutes an autonomous district. Each autonomous district has an Autonomous District Council (ADC).
- ADCs have up to 30 members with a term of five years, of whom four are nominated by the governor and the remaining 26 are elected on the basis of adult franchise.
- The term of the District Councils is for five years from the date of their constitution.
- The functions of ADCs as defined in schedule 6 of the constitution included –
- making laws on land,
- management of forests, except reserved forests,
- appointment of traditional chiefs and headmen,
- making rules regulating the inheritance of property, marriage, divorce, the constitution of village courts,
- It can establish, construct or manage primary schools, dispensaries, markets, ferries, fisheries, roads and so on in the district.
- It can also make regulations for the control of money lending and trading by non-tribals. But such regulations require the assent of the governor.
