Bring regional, district councils under anti-defection law: MP

A Congress member in Lok Sabha today sought application of anti-defection law and reservation for women in the district and regional councils in the tribal areas.
Moving a private member's Bill to amend the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution on the powers of the district and regional councils for consideration and passage, Congress MP from Meghalaya Vincent Pala said the legislation seeks clarity on the mandate of the district and regional councils as against the state governments.
Pala said the measure seeks extension of these regional and district councils in different states of the Northeast and sought reservation for women in these local bodies.

Noting that the anti-defection law does not apply to these district and regional councils, Pala sought an amendment to bring them under its purview.
"Some states feel that developmental work should be done by the councils themselves, while some don't. So there should be greater clarity on this," Pala said.
He said although the Centre released the fund, these are further disbursed to the councils after six months which leads to delay in crucial work.

He demanded that since the funds for these councils came from the Centre, the auditing of expenditure should be done by Comptroller and Auditor General and not the state government officials.

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Supporting the bill, Bhairon Prasad Mishra (BJP) said as the situation in the north eastern IS different, there is a need to give additional rights to them.
He said the condition in Bundelkhand too is not good and there is a demand for a separate state "but to form a separate state is a political decison".
He criticised the Uttar Pradesh government, saying it is not doing enough for the development of this region and unemployment is rising due to this.
He demanded setting up of Bundelkhand Vikas Parishad (BVK) with powers so that it can work for developemnt of the region.

Bhartruhari Mahtab (BJD) said the simplicity of tribal life needs to be protected and they should also get modern education and healthcare.
He said that the situation in states like Manipur, Mizoram and Meghalaya is still not stable.
That area needs more attention and funding but that money should also percolate to downwards, he said, adding modernity should go there but by maintaining the tradition.
S P Dutta (CPM) said unrest continues in that region and there is a need to provide adequate funding.
He alleged that the central government is snatching the rights of tribal people and that should not happen.

Supporting the bill, Konda Vishweshwar Reddy (TRS) said in principle the bill is good but in practice it fall short.