PAC constitution finalised with seat reservation for women

Itanagar, Jun 16 (UNI) The constitution of the proposed Patkai Autonomous Council(PAC) with provision for 10 per cent reservation for women in the state has been finalised.

In a departure from convention, the decision was arrived at yesterday by a delegation of around 70 leaders from the Tirap and Changlang districts of Arunachal Pradesh led by ministers and MLAs.

Most of the autonomous councils, including that of Meghalaya, where there is a matrilineal system, had no provision for seat reservation for women. In the Bodoland Territorial Council, the governor could nominate only two women to the General Council.

PAC Media Cell Chairman Gabriel D Wangsu said the proposed 40-seat General Council would also be represented by other communities, besides nominees by the governor.

The meeting also formed different committees for taking the movement smoothly forward, he added.

Various speakers highlighted the concerns and problems of the people and hoped the PAC would be the most suitable solution.

Senior leaders and members of the select committee said the new constitution was an outcome of the amalgamation of the best autonomous councils of the country adding that proper care had been taken to ensure that all the concerns and fears of the communities were addressed without leaving room for complaints in future.

Besides, the meeting decided to hold mass campaigns in all the blocks in the two districts, before sending a delegation to New Delhi, to place the demand for PAC before the monsoon session of the Parliament.

The meeting also decided that at least one member of every household would be enlisted in the demand committee.

Assembly Speaker Setong Sena, who is also the convenor of the PAC, said all the communities should strive towards achieving the autonomous council through peaceful efforts and without adhering to principles that were unconstitutional.

Every individual and community would be safeguarded under the proposed new dispensation, he added.

Earlier, MLA-cum-Chairman of the Mon Autonomous Council(MAC) Demand Committee, Rev T G Rimpoche said under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, the MAC had demanded the problems of the underdeveloped areas should be addressed adequately.

UNI