September 20, 2018: The Home Ministry has also constituted a Committee for examining the cultural and linguistic issues affecting the Indigenous Population of Tripura. The Committee has been asked to submit a report in 60 days.
This was stated after Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh held a meeting with the Chief Ministers of Tripura and Meghalaya, Senior officials of Assam and Mizoram in presence of Union Home Secretary, Joint Secretary, (North East), and other senior officials of Union Home Ministry in New Delhi today.
In the meeting, several issues including Amendment of Article 280 and Sixth Schedule of the Constitution were discussed.
Chief Minister Biplab Deb proposed to devolve tangible and financial powers to the Tribal Village Councils. Detailed discussions were held with reference to Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Assam to decide on measures for strengthening of the Tribal Village Councils and District Councils under the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution.
Sources said, Rajnath Singh welcomed proposals of Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Deb on these issues. Biplab Deb also proposed not to limit the representation of women to only one-third of strength of Councils, rather, it may be fixed at ‘not less than one-third of the strength’. “This will give flexibility to the State to increase the representation of women, in times to come”, he said.
On the issue of Bru repatriation, Rajnath Singh directed the Government of Mizoram to provide security to the repatriated Reang (Bru) citizens in Mizoram and ensure that the repatriation process continues smoothly. Both the State – Tripura and Mizoram Governments were asked to keep a strict vigil on the process.
