PPA for inclusion of Arunachal Pradesh in sixth schedule

ITANAGAR: The People's Party of Arunachal, the lone regional party representing the indigenous aspirations of the tribal people has resolved to fight for inclusion of the state in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution enabling it to have legitimate ownership rights over the natural resources.

The resolution was adopted by the party in its maiden interactive programme between the party legislators and the executive members here yesterday.

Party president Nikh Kamin, in a statement today, said the decision was taken after considering the vastness in size of the state with its inherent, diverse and peculiar multiplicity of problems.

The crusade for inclusion of the state under Article (A) of the Constitution would start after making an exhaustive study of the concept applicable to the state, he said.

"The Sixth Schedule provides tribal communities considerable autonomy in the lines of Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya and Mizoram which are autonomous regions", he said.

Inclusion of the state under the Sixth Schedule would enable the state to own the legitimate ownership rights over its own natural resources and make it self sufficient without having to depend too much on central grants, he said.

"Arunachal Pradesh is placed under Article 371H which other than giving overriding powers to the governor of the state is silent on various issues like the rights of the indigenous people over their land, water and forest," Kamin said.

The party delegated the responsibility to the elected legislators to lobby with the state and central government to achieve the objectives, the statement said.