constituent assembly of india debates (proceedings)- volume vii

provided that the administration of the areas to be brought under the provincial administration in future
should also be similar to that of existing Hill Districts.
(b) Lakhimpur Frontier and Plains Portions. - Regarding the Lakhimpur Frontier Tract, is appears
to be the view of the External Affairs Department that this Tract does not differ from the plains "and
need not be considered in relation to the problems of the hill tribes." Our information goes to show that a
portion of the Lakhimpur Frontier Tract was recently (during the war) included in the Tirap Frontier Tract.
The view of the Political Officer regarding this portion differed from that of other witnesses and the
circumstances here seem to need closer examination, as the Political Officer has stated that the area is
inhabited by tribes people. There are certain Buddhist villages inhabited by Fakials who should be
brought into the regularly administered area if possible. About the Lakhimpur Frontier Tract which is
under the Deputy Commissioner Lakhimpur we have no hesitation in recommending that it should be
attached to the regular administration of the District. The report of the Deputy Commissioner produced
before us in evidence is clear on the point. We also conclude from the evidence collected at Sadiya that
the Saikhoaghat portion of the excluded area south of the Lohit river and possibly the whole of the
Sadiya plains portion up to the Inner Line could be included in regular administration, but feel that the
question needs more detailed investigation and recommend that it should be undertaken by the
Provincial Government. The portion of the BaliPara Frontier Tract round Charduar should be subjected to
a similar examination, and the headquarters of the Political Officer of this tract should be shifted into the
hills as early as possible.
(c) Posa Payments. - Certain payment are being made at present to the tribes on the North East
Frontier. In the Balipara Frontier Tract payments called posa which total in all to about Rs. 10,000 per
year, and certain customary presents are paid. These are vestigial payments of sums which the tribes
used to claim in the days of the Ahom kings whether by way of quid pro quo for keeping the peace on
the border and not raiding the plains or in recognition of a customary claim on the local inhabitants or
territory. On the Tirap Frontier a payment of Rs. 450 per year is made to the Chief of Namsang as lease
money for a tea garden. We have considered the question whether these payments should be continued
in view of the costly development schemes being undertaken, and have come to the conclusion that it
would be a mistake to stop them. The effect upon the tribes of such a step would be the feeling that the
first act of the new Government was adverse to them and the result of any disaffection in this area might
seriously jeopardise our aims of establishing administration and bringing the tribes, who are well
disposed at present, into the fold of civilisation within our boundaries. The payments are negligibly small
in comparison with the large sums of money required for these areas and we recommend that they
should continue unchanged at any rate till there is a suitable opportunity for a review of the position.
21. REPRESENTATION -
(a) Adult Franchise. - The partially excluded areas are already represented in the provincial
legislature. In the Garo Hills and Mikir Hills the franchise as already stated is are stricted one. The
excluded areas have no representation at present. So far as the frontier tracts tribal areas are concerned
they have no representation and the circumstances are such that until it is declared that an area is or
can be brought under regular administration, representation cannot be provided. We are of opinion that
examination should be made as soon as possible of this question in view of the very clear desire
expressed by the Abor, Hkampti and others for representation. Meanwhile, we are of the view that there
is no longer any justification for the exclusion of the Nag a, Lushai and North Cachar Hills and that these
areas should be represented in the provincial legislature. The restriction on the franchise in the Garo and
Mikir Hills should be removed and, if there is universal adult franchise else where, that system should be
applied to all these Hills. We would note here that our colleagues from the Lushai Hills expressed some
doubts about the feasibility of adult franchise in the Lushai Hills and seemed to prefer household
franchise. We do not anticipate any real difficulty in adult franchise here if it is feasible elsewhere but
would recommend that the position of the Lushai Hills may be considered by the appropriate body which