Why is it in the news?
- The tripartite agreement signed between the Centre, the State government of Tripura, and the Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance (Tipra Motha) aims to address the demands of indigenous people in Tripura.
Demands of Tipra Motha
- “Greater Tipraland”: This entails the creation of a separate state or union territory for Tripura’s tribals, extending beyond the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC)area to include other tribal communities residing outside it.
- More powers for TTAADC: This includes direct funding from the Centre, establishment of its own police force, a share of revenue from gas exploration, and declaration of the Roman script as the official script for the indigenous Kokborok language.
Genesis of Demand
- Tripura was historically governed by the Manikya dynasty from the late 13th century until 1949 when it signed the Instrument of Accession with the Indian government.
- The demand for Greater Tipraland and increased autonomy for indigenous communities stems from the anxieties of these communities, who have become minorities in their own state.
- The tribal population in Tripura has significantly decreased over time. In 1881, tribals constituted 63.77% of the population, which declined to 31.80% by 2011.
- Indigenous people have been forcibly removed from lands reserved for them by the penultimate king of the Manikya dynasty, Bir Bikram Kishore Debbarman.
| About TTAADC
· The Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) was established in 1985 in accordance with the provisions of the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. · The primary objective of TTAADC is to ensure the development and protection of the rights and cultural heritage of tribal communities residing in the designated areas. · TTAADC is vested with both legislative and executive powers, enabling it to enact laws and implement policies for the welfare of tribal communities. · TTAADC covers nearly two-thirds of Tripura’s geographical area, signifying its significant jurisdiction over tribal-dominated regions within the state.
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Greater Tipraland
- The proposed area for the formation of “Greater Tipraland” includes not only the region under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) but also extends to 36 villages within Tripura’s state boundaries.
- Tipra Motha is advocating for the creation of a separate state or union territory encompassing this area, which would be exclusively for the 19 indigenous tribes of Tripura. This demand is based on Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution, which provide provisions for the admission and establishment of new states.
- The demand goes beyond the confines of Tripura’s tribal council areas. It seeks to incorporate the “Tiprasa” community of Tripuris spread across various states in India, such as Assam, Mizoram, as well as those residing in regions like Bandarban, Chittagong, Khagrachari, and other bordering areas of neighbouring Bangladesh.
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| What Constitution says about creation of new states
· Article 2 of the Constitution empowers Parliament to admit new states into the Union or establish new states, with the flexibility to determine terms and conditions. · Article 3 outlines the procedure for the formation of new states, emphasizing that existing states have no direct authority over this process apart from communicating their views to Parliament. · Parliament can create new states through various means, including separating territory from existing states, uniting two or more states, uniting parts of states, or uniting any territory with a part of an existing state. · Parliament’s authority under Article 3 extends to increasing or decreasing the area of any state and altering state boundaries or names. · A bill proposing the formation of new states can be introduced in either House of Parliament only upon the President’s recommendation. · If the bill affects the areas, boundaries, or name of any existing state, the President must refer it to the concerned State Legislature to express its views to Parliament.
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