Key Meet of Northeast CEMs In Delhi for 125th Amendment of 6th Schedule

The royal scion of Tripura, Pradyot Debbarma said that the meeting's goal is to ensure that the indigenous people get their rights.

Chief Executive Members (CEMs) of the 10 autonomous district councils of the Northeast is meeting in New Delhi today to build a consensus for the 125th Amendment Bill of the 6th Schedule. Post the meeting, the CEMs will be meeting Union Home Minister today at round 2.30 pm in the national capital.

The meeting has been organised by the CEMs of the region.

Speaking exclusively to Northeast Live, the royal scion of Tripura, Pradyot Debbarma said that the meeting’s goal is to ensure that the indigenous people get their rights.

Debbarma said, “Every 5 years we go to people asking for votes. But if we do not have the power to give people jobs, and their rights and both the governments in the state and the centre do nothing to empower people in the 6th schedule areas, how will we go back and ask for votes again.”

He said that these issues are very important and need to be addressed.

Speaking on the pressing demands of District Council leaders, emphasising the need for direct funding from the central government to the District Councils, bypassing state governments, Debbarma expressed the frustrations surrounding the current funding mechanism and said, “Money given from the Centre is never given to us on time. It is parked by different state governments.”

Speaking on District Council leaders’s demand for more land rights to the tribal people, Debbarma highlighted the historical and cultural significance of land ownership for tribal people, saying, “The land belongs to the tribals only. Just because we are very large-hearted, that is why we have lost control of our land and all the resources such as petrol, gas, coal, minerals.”

“Definitely we want financial autonomy and land rights because now people from Bangladesh are coming and taking over our lands. If we had the authority to issue pattas to our people to have control over our land, we would not be in this situation,” he added.

He also emphasised for institutional mechanisms in place for the distribution of funds.

Pradyot Debbarma will also hold a meeting with the officials of the Union Home Ministry to discuss the Tiprasa Accord.

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