Protestors in Assam's Dima Hasao rally against Panchayat Raj System citing 6th Schedule protection

Thousands of protestors, led by the Sixth Schedule Protection Committee, rallied in Maibang today to oppose the introduction of the Panchayat Raj system in the Dima Hasao district. The demonstrators circumambulated Maibang town before submitting a memorandum to Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma through the Deputy Commissioner of Maibang subdivision.

Daniel Langthasa, a member of the Sixth Schedule Protection Committee, voiced strong objections, asserting that the government’s move to introduce Panchayat Raj undermines the powers of the North Cachar Hill Autonomous Council (NCHAC). He cited Article 243 (M) of the Constitution, which he claims prohibits the implementation of Panchayat Raj in Sixth Schedule areas like Dima Hasao.

Langthasa highlighted an order dated September 15, 2019, from the Project Director of the District Rural Development Department, which introduced the GPDP Village Panchayat Development Program without the approval of the NCHAC’s Executive Committee. This, he argued, was a violation of the established norms, as any introduction of Panchayat Raj requires the Executive Committee’s consent.

Further complicating matters, the Gauhati High Court directed the NCHAC in 2019 to conduct its own elections. However, recent elections are being conducted under the Panchayat system by the State Election Commission, a move Langthasa criticizes as undermining local governance structures.

The protestors demanded the immediate withdrawal of the Panchayat Raj system from Dima Hasao and called for adherence to the 2019 Gauhati High Court directive. They also demanded the scrapping of Bill No. 125, introduced in the Rajya Sabha, which proposes the implementation of Panchayat Raj in the district.

The memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister encapsulates the community's concerns, seeking protection of their autonomy under the Sixth Schedule and opposing any unilateral changes that diminish local governance.