North East TADC to seek Rs 2,000 cr support from Centre

Tribal Autonomous District Councils in the North East today unanimously decided to seek Rs 2,000 crore for development activities in their respective jurisdictions from the Centre and create a separate ministry for their upkeep.
The demand came in the wake of the Centre's recent decision to reduce budgetary provisions for the special assistant grants to ten ADCs to Rs 500 crore for 2017-2018, a 50 per cent reduction from what was allotted in the previous fiscal.
Addressing reporters after a joint meeting of the councils under the umbrella of Forum of Councils Under Sixth Schedule (FOCUSS), its chairman and Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council chief P N Syiem said "We have unanimously resolved to urge the Centre to reconsider its decision and enhance the present budget allocation for the ten ADCs."

The FOCUS meet, which was attended by representative from Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council, North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC), Tripura Tribal Council, Chakma District Council of Mizoram and Tura MP Conrad K Sangma, has decided to pursue the matter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
Syiem said two delegations would meet Jaitley and the Prime Minister in March.
He admitted that one of the reasons behind the financial cut was the delay and non-submission of utilisation certificates (UCs).

Syiem said KHADC and JHADC in Meghalaya were yet to get the funds sanctioned by the Centre despite proposals being submitted on time.

The FOCUSS chairman said the Centre should consider setting up of a separate ministry for the tribal district councils in the NE.
"We will also demand a separate budget head for the ADCs," he said.