NEW DELHI, Sept 20 - The Centre has agreed to amend the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution in the North Eastern States including Meghalaya, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh besides implementing the agreement arrived at with the UPDS and DHD in Assam.
This was decided at a high-level meeting chaired by Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh and attended by State Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma, Tripura Chief Minister, Biplab Deb and State Minister Chandan Brahma, besides senior officials of the State Governments and the Home Ministry.
According to sources, the number of seats in Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council will increase to 50. While the number of seats in Dima Hasao Autonomous Council is proposed to increase to 40 seats.
According to the Memorandum of Settlement arrived at with the UPDS on November 25, 2011, increasing seats in the Council up to 50 members of which 6 will be nominated by Governor for more representation. (presently 30 seats out of which four nominated by Governor.)
Sources disclosed that the meeting also discussed the proposal to amend the Article 280 of the Constitution to enable the Central Finance Commission to directly fund the autonomous councils.
The meeting also discussed the demands for Schedule Tribe status by the six communities of the State, said sources.
Emerging from the meeting, Patowary said that the Cabinet Sub-committee has started the exercise of talking to the various ethnic groups demanding ST status. Based on the recommendations of the Cabinet Sub-committee the Centre will take a final decision, said the State Minister.
