constituent assembly of india debates (proceedings)- volume vii

to be maintained with the development and administration of these areas. For this purpose we consider
that there should be provision for the appointment of a Commission, on which we expect that there will
be representatives of the tribes, to examine the state of affairs periodically and report. We recommend
that there should be provision to appoint the Commission ad hoc or permanently and that the Governor
of the province should have the responsibility and power for appointing it. The report of the Commission
should enable the Government to watch the progress of the development plan and take such other
administrative action as may be necessary.
25. PLAINS TRIBALS -
The total tribal population of Assam was shown in the Census of 1941 as 2,484,996. The excluded
and partially excluded areas contribute to this only 863,248. About 1.6 million tribals therefore live in the
plains including those who work as tea-gardens lab our. The terms of our enquiry are that we report on a
scheme of administration for the tribal and excluded areas and the question of tribes people in the plains
strictly does not concern us. Their case will doubtless be dealt with by the Minorities Sub-Committee. The
population of the plains tribals which is being gradually assimilated to the population of the plains, should
for all practical purposes be treated as a minority .Measures of protection for their land are also in our
view necessary. At present certain seats are reserved in the provincial legislature for them. The question
of their representation and protection will we hope be considered by the Minorities Sub-Committee. We
have kept in mind however the possibility of there being certain areas inhabited by tribals in the plains or
at the foot of the hills whom it may be necessary to provide for in the same manner [See Clause* A (3)
of Appendix A].*
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* Reference to clause is to clause in the original reports.
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26. BOUNDARIES -
All the Hills people have expressed a desire for the rectification of district boundaries so that people
of the same tribe are brought under a common administration. We sympathise with this desire but find
that it is only out side our terms of reference but also that it would necessitate an amount of
examination which would make it impossible for us to submit our report to the Advisory Committee in
time. The present boundaries have, we find, been in existence for many years and we feel that there is
time for a separate commission set up by the Provincial Government to work on the problems involved.
An exception should however be the case of the Barpathar and Sarupathar mauzas included in the Mikir
Hills which the Provincial Government have already decided should be removed from the category of
excluded and added to the regularly administered areas (see memorandum of Government of Assam).
We agree with this recommendation and propose that it should be given effect when the new
Constitution comes into force.
27. NON-TRIBAL RESIDENTS-
In the Hill Districts, a certain number of non-tribal people reside as permanent residents. They
generally follow non-agricultural professions but some cultivate land also. We have recommended that
these residents should not be eligible to stand for election to the provincial legislature. It is necessary
however to provide them with representation in the local council if they are sufficiently numerous. We
contemplate that constituencies may be formed for the local councils if the number of residents is not
below 500 and that non-tribal constituencies should be formed where this is justified.