Sonam Wangchuk : Ladak and Sixth Schedule
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was detained on the Delhi border on Monday night as he led a group of protesters to petition the Central government for the inclusion of Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution among other demands for autonomy to the region.
- Ladakh’s indigenous population, including the Buddhist and Shia Muslim communities, seeks cultural preservation and governance autonomy.
- Activists, including Sonam Wangchuk, argue that inclusion under the Sixth Schedule will provide constitutional safeguards, ensuring economic and social development while protecting their cultural heritage.
- Ladakh has a significant tribal population, and the Sixth Schedule would empower Autonomous District Councils to govern with greater local autonomy, much like northeastern tribal areas.
Positives of being under the Sixth Schedule: - States and regions under the Sixth Schedule enjoy legislative, executive, and judicial autonomy, helping preserve tribal culture. E.g. The Autonomous District Councils in Meghalaya regulate land and forests, ensuring local control over resources.
- Tribal communities can manage their affairs, including laws on land inheritance, social customs, and marriage. E.g. Mizoram’s ADCs regulate shifting cultivation, a traditional tribal practice.
- The Sixth Schedule provides for tailored developmental programs, creating more opportunities for regional growth. E.g. Meghalaya’s ADCs have autonomy over primary education and local roads.
- The Sixth Schedule areas benefit from government schemes that focus on education, infrastructure, and healthcare, improving the overall socio-economic status.
The Fifth and Sixth Schedules:
- Asymmetrical federalism refers to a system where different states or regions within a federation have varying degrees of autonomy and powers.
- In India, certain states and areas enjoy more autonomy under constitutional provisions, particularly through the Fifth and Sixth Schedules. This differs from symmetrical federations like the U.S., where all states enjoy equal powers.
- The Fifth and Sixth Schedules derive from the provisions of the Government of India Act, 1935, which classified areas into ‘excluded’ and ‘partially excluded’ regions. These were meant to protect tribal populations from external interventions.
- Fifth Schedule (Article 244): It applies to ‘Scheduled Areas’ declared by the President, focusing on tribal welfare, land rights, and advisory councils. States covered include Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, and others.
- Sixth Schedule (Article 244A): It covers ‘Tribal Areas’ in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura. Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) manage legislative and administrative tasks in these regions, providing more autonomy than the Fifth Schedule.
