GUWAHATI: Approval was granted to a series of Amendment Bills aimed at bringing about key changes in the functioning of various Autonomous Councils in Assam by the government in the State Cabinet Meeting on January 31.
The approved bills primarily focus on the removal of provisions related to Village Councils within the respective Autonomous Councils which include:
1) Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (Amendment) Bill, 2024
2) Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council (Amendment) Bill, 2024
3) Deori Autonomous Council (Amendment) Bill, 2024
4) Thengal Kachari Autonomous Council (Amendment) Bill, 2024
5) Tiwa Autonomous Council (Amendment) Bill, 2024
These Amendment Bills seek to bring about uniformity in the administrative structure of the Autonomous Councils by eliminating the Village Council provisions, thereby bringing in changes aligned with the evolving governance landscape.
Additionally, the Cabinet gave its nod to the Mising Autonomous Council (Amendment) Bill, 2024. This particular bill focuses on the removal of the provision related to Village Councils while concurrently proposing an increase in the strength of the General Council. The amendment retains the ratio of Scheduled Tribe (ST) representation as per the existing Act, thereby ensuring equitable representation in the decision-making processes of the Mising Autonomous Council.