Autonomy i.e. self Government administrative system for backward population and remote hill areas in Indian union which the concept of British Administrative structure. The land and people of North-East India came into contact with the British Administration in the last decade of 18th century. It was Lord Cornawallies who sent captain Welsh as a British representative to Brahmaputra valley in 1792. Treaty of Yandodo was signed and executed on the 24th February 1824. There was the Anglo-Burmese conflict and expulsion of Burmese from the valley (Cachar) by Govinda Chandra in 1826 itself. Subsequently to this, the major tribes of North-East India came into contact with British rule. N.C Hills, which was dominated by Angami Nagas annexed with Nowgang district in 1829. N.C Hills was taken over by the British in 1854. The Naga Hills district was constituted in 1867. Thereafter, Lushai hills came into control of British in 1889.

For the regulation of movement of the British subject and people from outside North-East India to this region. Lt. Governor of Bengal formulated Inner Line Regulation Act, which was subsequently rectified by Governor General-in-Council in 1872-1873.

In 1847, the Scheduled District Act. covering the whole of Assam province was enforced in 1880, Frontier Tract Regulation Act. enforced in Assam. This is basically aiming for the management of local administration, exempting applications of certain acts of British Government, in Assam province. This province re-affirmed through Government of India Act. 1915, section 71 of this act. Exempted application of the forms in specified areas. Thereafter, Montague Chelmsford committee on Administrative Reforms submitted its report in 1917, though Government, of Indian Act, 1919 under section 52A. Some specified areas declared as backward areas.

On the declaration of backward tract on 3rd January 1921 the following Hill Districts came in to being :-

1. Garo Hill District,
2. Khasi and Jaintia Hills (British control parts only),
3. Mikir Hills,
4. N.C Hills,
5. Naga Hills,
6. Lushai Hills.

Again in 1920-1921 Simon Commission was constituted to examine the constitutional status of the hill areas.

The landmark steps originating Autonomous District Council came into force through Government of India Bill, 1934. Thereafter, the Government of India Act, 1935 has implemented on 3rd March, 1936 under section 92 of Government of India Act, 1935. The whole Assam province was classified in to 2 (two) distinctive administrative areas:-

Part 1 - Excluded areas = North-East frontier, Sadia, Balipara, Lakshimpur, Naga Hills and Lushai Hills.

Part 2 - Partially excluded areas = N.C Hills, Garo Hills, Mikir Hills and Khasi and Jaintia Hills.

Section - 311 of the Government of India Act, 1935 has distinctively defined the tribal areas in Assam province.

On the eve of India's Independent, Re-organization of Tribal Areas in Assam province has been carefully considered by another committee popularly known as 'Bordoloi Committee' and recommendation of the committee declared on the 24th January 1947.

On the recommendation of 'Bordoloi Committee' the following Autonomous District Council came into existence in Assam province.

Upon the above administrative background specially the concept of excluded areas and partially excluded areas and taking into account of the recommendation of the 'Bordoloi Committee', the following Autonomous District Councils set up in North-East India:-

SL No. 1. 2. 3.     4.

Name of the state(s) Assam Mizoram Meghalaya     Manipur

Name of the District Councils 1. N.C. Hills District Council. 1. Pawai & Lakher District Council. 1. Khasi Hills District Council, 2. Jaintia Hills District ouncil, 3. Garo Hills District Council. 1. (six) district council.

Total = 13 Hills District Council.

It is needless to mention that prior to North-East Areas re-organization Act. in 1971, Mizoram & Meghalaya states were not curved out and having single entity as Assam state.

In 1964, Khasi Hills District Council and Jaintia Hills District Council were separated into two District Council. In 1972 under the Government of India Act, Governor of Manipur empowered constitution of not more than 6 (six) District Councils in Manipur state.

However, out of 13 District Councils altogether there are only 9 (nine) District Councils including TTAADC of Twipra state under the provision of 6 (six) schedule of the Constitution now in existence. The TTAADC in Twipra state was initially setup in 1982 according to the TTAADC Act, 1979 under the provision of 7th Schedule (State list) only, TTAADC has how ever elevated a full fledged District Council under the provision of 6th Schedule of the Constitution in 1985 only. [Constitution (49th amendment) Act, 1984.]

The concept of Autonomous District Council in Twipra predominantly based on the prime factors of continuous movement by the Indigenous Tribal population as a resultant affect of population explosions in Twipra state after the Indian Independent (partition of Bengal). TTAADC areas curved out comprising of the Tehsils & Revenue villages under the provision of 2nd Schedule of TLR & LR Act, 1960.

The provision of 2nd Schedule once again based on the total 2060 sq. miles of land reserved for Indigenous Community by the ex-Ruler King Birbikram Kishore Manikya in 1931 & 1943 respectively.

The basic concept of the District Council is to offer autonomy or self-Government to the Indigenous backward population without interference of their traditional meaning of life and culture. But this special administrative system could not deliver good for the long term interest of the Indigenous population. There are always conflict and contrast with the concerned State Governments and TTAADC is also not in exception.

District Councils are always demanding for devolution of more power in terms of general administration and financial management. Upon the series of agitation, N.C. Hills District Council & Karbi Anglong District Councils authorized more power vide Act-42 of 1995, more empowerment to other District Council similar to N.C. Hills & Karbi Anglong District Councils are still appeared to be awaiting.

The power and authority of the District Councils have been overshadow further consequent upon 73rd & 74th amendment of the constitution, through further empowering to Panchayat and Municipal bodies in 1992. Since, the Panchayat Act, 92 can not be extended in schedule areas (in 5th & 6th schedule areas). The controversy upon the power and authority in between Panchayat structure and District Councils cropped up. In this back-drop, the Panchayat (Extension to the schedule areas) Act, 1996 (PESA) came in to force. But extension of PESA restricted to schedule areas only, it has no provision to extend the same in the Indigenous inhabitate areas as define under article-244 (2).

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Government of India have came forward for amendment of the 5th Schedule in 2000. But furthermore, MHA, Government of India have constituted a high power committee on the review of functioning of the constitution under the chairmanship of Honourable Justice Venkatechalia with special reference to the empowerment of traditional and social institutions functioning in the Indigenous inhabitate areas of Twipra and in North-East India.

Therefore, devolution of more power and authority to the self-Government Autonomous bodies in the schedule areas under the active consideration of the Union Government with the close coordination of the concerned State Government and Autonomous Councils of the North-East India.