Tripura govt opposed to a clause of tribal council

The Marxist government in Tripura has supported centre's proposals to empower tribal councils in country's North-East but opposed a proposal which said that the councils will have to send a monthly report to the Governor regarding expenditure and functioning of the council.

'The centre had sent twelve proposals to the state government for our comment and we discussed the matter in our council of ministers and our opinion sent on July 15 last.

We have agreed on eleven proposals, but opposed one which said that the tribal councils would have to furnish a monthly report on expenditure to the governor because it goes against the federal structure', Tribal Welfare Minister Aghore Debbarma told reporters.

The Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), occupying two-third of the state, was set up in 1987 under sixth schedule of the constitution to protect and safeguard the economic and cultural rights of the tribals.

Tribal Welfare Minister, who himself is a tribal said, the centre's proposal for elections to be held by the state election commission is already followed in Tripura.

Debbarma said, the central government would place a bill in the parliament for amendment of the sixth schedule for giving more power to the tribal council, which we support, except that the monthly report of the functioning of the tribal council should be submitted to the governor.