Autonomy and Democratic Governance in Northeast India

Cover
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
List of tables
List of contributors
Preface
Introduction
	Autonomy in India
	About the book
	References
Section I: Understanding autonomy
	Chapter 1: The Sixth Schedule to the constitution of India: Emergence and development
		Introduction
		The British rule and its impact on the hill areas of India’s Northeast
		Bordoloi Sub-Committee and the acceptance of Sixth Schedule by the Constituent Assembly
		Amendment and emergence of states and union territories from Sixth Schedule areas
		Uniqueness of the Pawi-Lakher Regional Council
		Amendment of the Sixth Schedule and its present status
		Comparative analysis of powers of different councils
		Comparison of various councils under the Sixth Schedule with other local governments
		Autonomy in the hill areas of Manipur
		Satellite councils of Assam
		Hill development council in Ladakh
		Gorkhaland territorial administration in West Bengal
		Sinlung hills council in Mizoram
		Conclusion
		References
	Chapter 2: Revisiting the Sixth Schedule and the demand for separate states in Northeast India: A paradox of political autonomy
		What is the Sixth Schedule and why is it necessary today?
		Is the Sixth Schedule a continuation of the British legacy?
		The Governor and the Sixth Schedule
		Historical background and nature of working of the Sixth Schedule
		Journey of the Sixth Schedule and looming discrepancies
		Demands for statehood and democratisation of politics
			Question of identity
			Issue of immigration
			Electoral democracy
		Demands for separate statehood in the Sixth Schedule areas
		Connection between the Sixth Schedule and the demand for political autonomy
		Notes
		References
	Chapter 3: State within a state: Analysing the issues and challenges of autonomous councils
		Introduction
		The constitutional developments
		Powers of the autonomous district councils
		Executive power
		Judicial power
		Legislative power
		Financial power
		Issues and challenges relating to autonomous district councils
		Judicial approach to the Sixth Schedule
		Opportunities: The way ahead for district councils
		Recent development: Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 and Covid-19 effects
		Conclusion
		Notes
		References
Section II: Autonomy and electoral politics
	Chapter 4: Contextualising democratic governance in Bodoland: Changes and challenges
		Introduction
		Contextualising political autonomy in India
		Bodoland: From imagination to institutionalisation
		Historicising the Bodo identity movement
		Bodoland Territorial Council: Institutionalising an identity
		Deciphering electoral conundrum in Bodoland: From structure to process
		Bodo peace accord and the proposed Bodoland Territorial Region
		Contextualising governance in Bodoland: Changes and challenges
		The structural dimension
		The demographic dimension
		The socio-cultural dimension
		Conclusion
		Notes
		References
	Chapter 5: Challenging predicaments of electoral politics of an autonomous district council: The case of Bodoland Territorial Area District (BTAD), Assam
		Introduction
		The emergence of political consciousness among the Boros
		Beginning of electoral politics of the Boro people during the colonial period
		Electoral politics of the Boros after Independence until the creation of Bodoland Territorial Council
		The rise of the Boros in electoral politics of the BTC and the state government
		Conclusion
		Notes
		References
	Chapter 6: The working of the autonomous district councils in Manipur in theory and practice
		Introduction
		The idea
		Links with the Hill Areas Committee
		Power with regard to the Chiefs and village authorities
		Relationship with the deputy commissioner
		Financial and taxation powers
		Power to create posts
		The working of the Churachandpur autonomous district council
		Revenue, expenditure and budget-making
		Issues dealt with by the autonomous district councils
		Appraisals
		The issue of devolutions
		Report of the Chief Minister’s social policy advisory committee, 1995–1997
		Conclusion
		Acknowledgements
		Notes
		References
Section III: Traditional institutions, autonomy movement and cooperatives
	Chapter 7: Traditional institutions, state recognition and democracy in Sikkim: Reconciling tradition with modernity
		Introduction
		Neo-traditionalism and indigenous governance: conceptual and theoretical analysis
		Traditional governance and dualism in India: Coexistence of informal and formal institutions
		Traditional institutions in Sikkim: Democratisation and recognition
		Traditional leaders and indigenous systems of governance
		Election
		Powers and functions
		Reasons of continuity
		Conclusion: Towards a synthesis between traditionalism and modernity
		Notes
		References
	Chapter 8: Subject and citizen: The autonomy question and Dzumsa in Sikkim
		Introduction
		Article 371(F): The context of Sikkim’s special status in India
		Subject and citizen anomaly: Special provision and the discourse of rights in India
		Autonomy and tribal governance in India
		Dzumsa: Interface between autonomy and self-governance
		Dzumsa: Understanding customary village council versus autonomy
		Conclusion
		Notes
		References
	Chapter 9: The crisis within: Can the autonomous district councils survive in Meghalaya?
		The background study
		The Bordoloi sub-committee
		Relationship between the autonomous councils and the traditional institutions
		Relationship between the autonomous councils and the state government
		Intervention by the judiciary
		The controversial Khasi social custom of lineage
		Conclusion
		References
	Chapter 10: Autonomy movements of the Bodos and the Chutias of Assam: A comparative study
		Introduction
		Background of the Bodos and the Chutias
		Cultural consciousness of the Bodos and the Chutias
		Bodo autonomy movement
		Chutia autonomy movement: Is there any?
		Cultural revivalism of the Chutias
		Conclusion
		Notes
		References
	Chapter 11: The trajectory from Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council to Gorkhaland Territorial Administration: A fragile administrative autonomy in Darjeeling
		Autonomy in Darjeeling
		Darjeeling during and after the British rule
		Demography of the region
		Gorkhaland movement of 1986: An autonomy movement in the form of a federal state
		Hill council: Frangible administrative arrangement
		Main reasons for the frangibility of the hill council
		Gorkhaland movement of 2007
		Towards new autonomy: Gorkhaland Territorial Administration
		Old wine in an incipient bottle
		Various reasons for the fragile nature of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration
		Frangible nature of autonomy in Darjeeling: An analysis
		Notes
		References
	Chapter 12: Understanding the autonomy movement of the Misings in Assam
		Introduction
		Historical background
		Formation of the Mising Autonomous Council
		Demand for autonomy under the Sixth Schedule
		The exit of Ranoj Pegu
		Method and tactics of mobilisation
		Conclusion
		Notes
		References
	Chapter 13: Autonomy and democratisation through cooperatives: Change from within
		Introduction
		The case of cooperatives
		Institution of socio-economic change
		Capital – human and physical
		Democratic values and institutional framework
		Conclusion
		References
Index