GUWAHATI: State Hill Area Development (HAD) Minister Sum Ronghang has spelt it out in no uncertain terms that the twin hill districts – Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao – of the State need either autonomy or adequate funds for development.
Talking to The Sentinel, Ronghang said: “The demand for autonomy – a state within the State – under Article 244(A) is justified. After all, we’re not demanding a separate State. What we’re demanding is a state within the State. There’s no hurdle as the Constitution has such a provision.”
The Minister said: “The development in the twin districts is very poor. We keep requesting the Centre for an exclusive package for the development of the two hill districts. However, the response is not prompt. We get a megre amount from Dispur annually. While Karbi Anglong gets around Rs 300 crore, Dima Hasao gets around Rs 175 crore annually. Despite having smaller geographical areas, Sikkim and Mizoram get Rs 5,000-10,000 crore each from the Centre annually. This is because they are autonomous States. We need autonomy or adequate funds for development.”
Ronghang further said: “Bigger geographical areas of the twin hill districts with difficult terrains have some drawbacks. Because of the bigger areas and hilly terrains, roads in the hills districts are longer. This apart, if the construction of a road costs Rs 1 crore in plain areas, such a road in the hills costs Rs 4 crore. This apart, the sources of revenue in the hills are very few. The Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) earns around Rs 40 crore annually as revenue. With such a meagre amount it’s even difficult to meet the salary component of the council. The scope for job generation in the hill districts is also very limited. People in the hills feel deprived on all fronts. Maybe, this leads to the formation of rebel groups and agitations.”
When asked on the alleged corruption in the two hill districts, the minister said: “Even though the councils are headed by us, the officials manning them are of the State Government. A section of people takes recourse to corrupt practices since the officers manning the councils give them enough scopes. If the two hill districts get autonomy, the officials will be well under our control. As HAD Minister, I get a meagre amount and with that I try my best to develop the hill districts. It’s high time the Centre and Dispur knew the problems afflicting the two hill districts and took appropriate steps to right the wrong.”
Autonomy has been a long-standing demand from the two hill districts of the State. Various organizations, including the Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC), were formed to push forward the demand.
Article 244(A) empowers the Parliament by law to form an autonomous state within the State and to form a new body to function as a legislature for the autonomous State or a council of ministers.
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