India was in the niche of about to emerge as the biggest and largest democratic country of the world. The freedom movement of India was in the full swing under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. At the same time the 2nd world war was over. On the other side in Tripura, Movement for rule by the elected representative of the people with the monarch as head was organised by some educated Tripuri Youths. Then there was sudden death of Maharaja Birbikram Manikya in the month of May 1947. India had just attained the independence from the two hundred years rule of the British. It was decided by the queen of Tripura state that the state would be merged with the recently achieved independent India and the sovereignty of Tripura was about to abolished for ever. It was expected by some of the educated Tripuri  youths that post merger of Tripura would face a lots of influx of refugees and since than it had started demanding the autonomy  status of Tripuri dominated areas of Tripura which had been reserved by the late king of Tripura His highness Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya.   Since than the indigenous Tripuri people had been agitating for autonomy for long years to preserve and promote their  reserved land of late King from being grabbed by illegal intruders and protect their distinct culture, customs, religious practices, heritages and the pristine ways of living simple life. It is against this background that the state Government as well as the Central Government decided to set up an Autonomous District Council for the areas predominantly having tribal population of the state to introduce internal autonomy in tribal compact areas and thereby protect their social, economic and cultural interests of the tribal population.

The autonomous was body was set up under Article 244 of Indian constitution. The objective behind setting up the Autonomous District Council is to hand over certain administrative and legal authority to the council in order that it may devote concerted attention to all aspects of cultural, social and economic improvement of the tribal people who for historical reasons presently belong to the weaker sections of society and thereby free them from all kinds of social injustice. There is no doubt that the formation of the District Council under schedule VI of the Constitution of India had fulfilled the long cherished demand of the hill people of Tripura for self government in tribal majority areas. In this context, it deserves particular mention that while resting the right of autonomy, the tribal people had not agitated all by themselves. The democratic people of the state in general lent powerful support to their movement.

The main objective of forming the District Council under schedule VI was to remove within a short time the material disparities between the advanced and backward sections of the societies, to strengthen the bond of unity between the tribal and non-tribal masses, to emancipate not only tribal people but all the deprived people from all types of injustice and exploitation. Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council is a symbol of integrity, harmony ad unity of the tribal and non-tribal people of the state. Now it is marching through the concerted efforts of the masses.

In the tribal compact areas of the state of Tripura with an aim to introduce internal autonomy and there by protect the social, economic and cultural interests of the tribal population as a whole. Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council was constituted under the seventh schedule of the Constitution of India. The Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council Bill, 1979 was unanimously passed by the Tripura Legislative Assembly on March 23, 1979. The Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council was constituted through vote by secret ballot in January 15, 1982 and the elected members were sworn in on 18, 1982.

Subsequently, the Constitution of India has been amended by a bill and it was unanimously passed at the floor of the Indian Parliament on August 23,1984 for introduction of the sixth schedule of the Constitution in Tripura. A fresh election under the Sixth Schedule has been held on June 30, 1985 through vote by secret ballot and the elected members were sworn in on July 19, 1985 consequently.

 Under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council is vested with two types of Powers.

 These are:

          1. Legislative Powers

          2. Executive Powers.

THE LEGISLATIVE POWERS

   The Legislative Department of the District Council is headed by the Chairman who summons the meeting of the Council time to time in connection with approval of budget, discussion on bills, rules and regulations submitted by the treasury bench and passing of the same thereof.

  The Council consists of 30 members out of which 28 members are elected by adult franchise and 2 members are nominated by the Governor of Tripura.

The Chairman has his own Secretariat headed by the Secretary to the District Council.

THE EXECUTIVE POWERS

   The Executive Powers are vested with the Executive Committee, which is headed by the Chief Executive Member who is elected from among the Treasury Bench members.

The Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India provides ample powers to the District Council for self-Governance of the Tribal population of the state. The District Council has its own powers to appoint its own staff in terms of requirement and appointment rules. The council administration is headed by the Chief Executive Officer and a Deputy Chief Executive Officer of TCS Grade-I and 6 Executive Officers, such as, Administration, Finance, Rural Development, Planning, Development and Coordination etc.

   There are different departments headed by a Principal Officer as the departmental head. The departments are 1. Agriculture, 2. Animal Husbandry, 3. Health and Family Welfare, 4. Industry, 5. Land Records and Settlement, 6. Law, 7. Publicity, 8. Science & Technology, 9. Welfare and 10. Education etc. The Public Works Department is manned by the Superintending Engineer with 4 Executive Engineers and other field staff. The Department has also its own set up in the field.

   The development programme of the Council are presently implemented by the Zonal Development Officers and 37 Sub-Zonal Development Officers within the TTAADC areas.

THE GENERAL POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF DISTRICT COUNCIL

Administrative:

   The following matters are under the exclusive control and administration of the council

Allotment, occupation, use or using apart of land other than reserve forest

Management of forests not being reserve forest

Use of canal water & water course for agriculture

Jhum

Village Committee or council

Any other matter relating to administration including public health and sanitation.

The Council may establish or manage:

Primary schools

Dispensaries

Markets

Cattle pounds

Fisheries

Ferries

Roads

Road transport and waterways

The Government may entrust functions relating matters to the Council:

Agriculture

Animal Resource Development

Community Projects

Co-operative Societies

Social Welfare

Village Planning

Fisheries

Plantations

Any other matter to which the executive power of the state extends

Legal:

The Council has Powers to frame laws in the following matters with the approval of Governor

Inheritance of property of schedule tribes

Marriage and divorce where any party belongs to a schedule tribes

Social customs of schedule tribes

Allotment, occupation, use or setting apart of all lands other than reserve forests

Management of forest other than reserve forest

Use of canal or water courses for purposes of Agriculture

Jhum

Village Committees or Council

Any other matter relating to administration

The Council may regulate and control:

 Money lending

 Trade

The Council may, with previous approval of the Government make regulation for administration and control of:

Primary schools

Dispensaries

Markets

Cattle pounds

Fisheries

Ferries

Roads

Road transport and waterways

Financial:

The Council shall get a share of

Forest royalties

Royalties accruing each year from Licenses or lease for the purpose of projecting for,

or the extraction of minerals granted by the State Government

The Council shall have the power to levy and collect the taxes

For maintenance of schools, dispensaries or roads

On entry of goods into markets and tolls on passengers and goods carried in ferries

On animals, vehicles and boats

On professional trades, calling and employments.

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