Councils for Morans, Mataks and Koch Rajbongshis: Dispur directs DCs to identify villages

GUWAHATI: The State government has decided to set up three autonomous councils for the Moran, Matak, and Koch Rajbongshi communities. The Deputy Commissioners have been directed to identify the villages where these communities constitute more than 50% of the total population in the respective districts.

Following the submission of reports by the DCs, the State government will take a final call on the Council areas. According to sources, Dispur plans to set up the autonomous councils by the fag end of this year or the first part of 2021.

The government had placed the following three Bills during the last Budget session in March: 'The Moran Autonomous Council Bill-2020', 'The Matak Autonomous Council Bill-2020', and 'The Kamatapur Autonomous Council Bill-2020'. However, no discussion could be held on the issue as the Budget session had to be shortened due to COVID-19. Hence, the State government will once again put up the Bills in the next session of the Assembly.

As per the Bills, each of these Councils with a five-year term will have a Chairman and a Deputy Chairman. The Moran and Matak Autonomous Councils will have 25 members each; of which while 22 will be elected by the people, the other three will be nominated by the government. On the other hand, there will be 30 members in the Kamatapur Autonomous Council. Of them, 26 will be elected directly and four others will be nominated by the government.

The formation process of these councils is being monitored by the Department of Welfare of Plain Tribes & Backward Classes.

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