Arunachal Pradesh ' the land of dawnlit mountain' is habited by some twenty scheduled tribes with a number of sub-tribes/groups, each having its own culture, customs, languages and beliefs and practices. The tribes, with a total population of 8,64.558 (Male:465004, Female :399554) as per 1991 census are scattered over an area of 83743 sq. km. throughout hilly terrain with rugged and typical mountainous topography.
The total number of scheduled tribe population is 550351 (Male-275397, Female -274954) which constitute 63.66 p.c. lived in 3649 villages. Of the total scheduled tribe populations, 518222 people are resided in the rural areas and
Therefore, it became imperative on the part of the social scientists to identify and investigate into the
It is in this background that the present project was taken up with a challenge, and now it is a matter of great satisfaction that the world of readers, scholars and researchers would be able to derive the benefits from this illuminating work. The picturesque Tawang and West Kameng districts, situated in the extreme western part of the state, are the homeland of the Monpas, a Buddhist tribe of Mahyarta Sect. Their village council tries all petty civil and criminal cases that arise in the village and plays an important role in developmental activities too.
It is the supreme authority in the village for hearing house hold disputes to the inter-village conflicts of both the civil and criminal nature.
The adult villagers can participate in the procedure of adjudication. The Bugun or Khowa village council is known as
Nimiyang which has both the head Nimiyang and the members. All the adult persons of the village are the members of this council and, therefore, can attend the deliberations of the council in order to arrive at a decision. Thus, it is the custodian of traditional customs and social norms.
The adult villagers can participate in the procedure of adjudication. The Bugun or Khowa village council is known as
The principal tribes inhabiting
the East Kameng district are the Nyishing, the Akas, the Mijis and the Puroilcs. Among the Nyishing who lives in East Kameng,
Lower Subansiri and Papum Pare districts, the traditional village council is an important body of the village which looks after the welfare of the society.
It is headed by the
Gaon Burah and its members are the elders of the village. The Gaon Burah is appointed by the Government. The council meets whenever necessary to settle the disputes and the dates for the elebration of the festivals. Oaths and ordeals are also used to amve at the final decision.
It is headed by the
The Sulung or Puroiks are scattered over hilly terrain of the East Kameng and Lower Subansiri districts.
the village of the Sulung comprises of a few houses only. The houses are usual chang type. They may be called as a migratory tribe. because earlier they were food gathers and they frequently shifted their villages where a local variety of plum trees. saga, is available.
They do not have well Each village has a democratic form of local government in the name of the Village council known locally as Keba where the disputes am heard and settled by the village elders in accordance with their own customary laws because it is vested with legislative, executive and judicial powers, and as a consequence of which its decisions are fair, impartial and binding upon all and in the larger interest of harmony and cohesion in the social life.
It maintains law and order, regulates economic, social and religious activities, and preserves socio-cultural customs and traditions. All adult male members can participate in the deliberations of the village council and express their opinions but women do not have any share in this local government except the situations in which they are directly involved and their arguments are essential for arriving at a fair decision.
It maintains law and order, regulates economic, social and religious activities, and preserves socio-cultural customs and traditions. All adult male members can participate in the deliberations of the village council and express their opinions but women do not have any share in this local government except the situations in which they are directly involved and their arguments are essential for arriving at a fair decision.
The Padams and the Minyongs (Adi) reside on the banks of both the Siang and the Yamne rivers in the East Siang district.
The Adi tribe comprised several sub-groups like Padam, Minyong, Pasis, Pangi, Shimong, Ashing, Bokar, Bori, Ramo, Pailibo, Milang and Tangam. The Padams and the Minyongs being the largest groups who have a democratic political institution locally known as
Kebang, from the time immemorial as the supreme authority to administer and exercise the highest form of social, legal, administrative, executive and judicial powers and functions with a view to maintain law and order, peace and harmony in the society. The judicial Kabang hears and tries all types of inter village and inter-tribal disputes concerning its jurisdiction. All types of cases like theft, murder, adultery, divorce, illegal occupation of landetc, are heard and settled here.
Developmental Kabang settles all the developmental activities like construction of roads and bridges. irrigation of cultivable Gelds, establishment of schools, boys dormitories, construction of new houses and repair of the old ones etc. A Kebang has jurisdiction over its own village. Therefore, the inter-village disputes are settled by the inter -village councils called Bango councils. The Boris of the West Siang district constitutes a small group of people inhabiting the Upper region of the West Siang district.
They have the triditional village authorities to maintain law and order, to preserve the age old customs and traditions, and to settle the
They have the triditional village authorities to maintain law and order, to preserve the age old customs and traditions, and to settle the
disputes in the society. The chief source of law and order is the public opinion which is guided by normal values, social behaviors and mythical code of law. The village head ( Gaon Borah) is the supreme authority in this community.
The main concentration of the Bokcar tribe is in around the valley of the
Syiom River in the Monigong area of the West Siang district Whenever dispute arises, the elders of the village assemble at a place and solve it through an open discussion. This type of administration of justice is known as Kebang where inter-tribal as well as the inter-village disputes is also settled by the members of the village council. The Pailibos reside in Tato circle of West Siang distinct.
They have their village leaders Gembos who hear the disputes with the statements of the people involved, but with the passage of time, the village council (Keba) came into being to adjudicate the cases brought before it. This village council comprises the head of the Keba, go-between and the village elders with long experiences and practical knowledge of the customary laws. The Khambas arc settled in and amend the Tuting subdivision.
There are two types of village councils in the Khamba villages one is called Khampshu, and another Tsondi. Sometimes, both are termed as the. The khampshu is a judicial council and the Tsondi is a developmental council. Therefore, they hear and settle the disputes of judicial and developmental nature.
The Lohit and Dibang valley districts are inhabited by the major tribes like the Mishmis, and the Khamtis etc. The Mishmis are divide into three sub-tribes viz Idu or Chulikata, Taraon or Digaru, and Kaman or Miju. Their village councils are informal in character, but they may vary from tribe to tribe composition, powers and previleges. They are all constituted of elderly.
influential and respected persons. However, all the villagers may participate in the deliberations of the council which discharges administrative. developpmental and judicial functions.
The Khaintis are a Buddhist tribe of Hanayana Sect. They are good agriculturists and comparitively of better economic condition. The institution of Chief is there among them.
The council performs judicial. developmental and executive functions in the larger intoned of the village.
The Singpho village council and its practices have been preserved for several years. The Singpho Chief is both a clan Chief and a territorial Chief. Therefore. he controls the village in both the social and political spheres. The Lisus constitute a small ethnic group inhabiting the remote eastern most part of the Vijaynagar circle of the Changlang distinct. Their village council is constituted of the village headman and other influential persons of the village. The villagers participate in the deliberations and discuss the issues freely in the council meetings.
The council hears the case carefully and gives decision according to the customary laws. The Noctes are one of the major tribes of the Tirap district. The Nocte village council has been functioning since the time immemorial. The institution of Chieftainship system is prevalent in their society. The Chief is called Lowang.
The council is the supreme authority of the village community. The women do not have the privilege of becoming its members. The council performs several functions. The council meets in the front courtyard of the Chief house. The Wanchos are the major tribe of the Tirap district. They have also the Chieftainship system. The Chief plays an active role in the traditional village council. The able villagers are its members. It performs several duties for the welfare of the viIlage by deciding both civil and criminal disputes. development etc.
The council is the supreme authority of the village community. The women do not have the privilege of becoming its members. The council performs several functions. The council meets in the front courtyard of the Chief house. The Wanchos are the major tribe of the Tirap district. They have also the Chieftainship system. The Chief plays an active role in the traditional village council. The able villagers are its members. It performs several duties for the welfare of the viIlage by deciding both civil and criminal disputes. development etc.
Thus, it appears that these democratic institutions viz. the traditional village councils are functioning effectively among the tribes of the state since time immemorial and their role in the societies is still remarkable .
The decision/verdict delivered by the council is dully honoured by the people as well as by the administration. The council members also enjoy a respectable position in the society. The people in general are simple and pea. loving. The first step towards organizing of formal democratic institution in the area was introduction of Panchavati Raj system as per recommendation of the
Daying Ering Commission constituted by the Government of India. So. a four-tier system of self-govemment, viz, the Gram Panchayat at the village level, the Anchal Samity at the Block level and the Zilla Parishad at the District level and Agency Council at the begining was introduced under the Regulation 3 of the North East Frontier Agency Panchayati Raj Regulation, 1967 with a view to govern the tribal traditions of Arunachal Pradesh democratically in 1969. Naturally, these governing bodies have been empowered to formulate and execute some developmental plans for the welfare of the people.
But the introduction of
the Panchayat Raj system has not affected the functioning of the village councils and authorities rather they have been strengthened by it. Since the provision for dual membership is there, the Gaon Panchyat/Anchal Samity/Zila Parishad members may be the members of the village councils too. However, some changes have been noticed.
Earlier, the village councils were the only institution for hearing and settlng all categories of disputes but now people may like to hearing andfor appeal the village councils were the only in the court of law maintained by the government.Moreover,when the village councils would find it difficult to settle certain case also may like to refer them to the
Government court of law. In 1971, the 27th constitution amendment Act,
the then North-East Frontier Agency, NEFA in short carved out from the state of Assam and a separate Unto: Territory was created with two seats in the Lok Sabha and one seat in the Rajya Sabha to be elected through e Union Territory of Arunachal Pradesh was formally declared on
20th January, 1972. With the change of nomenclature and status of the area, the then Agency
Council is redesignated as Pradesh Council and subsequently on 15th August, 1975, the Pradesh Council was converted in to the provisional Legislative Assembly with30 (thirty) elected M.L.A. and and three(3) nominated M.L,A. Initially, all the members of the Pradesh Council became the member of the Legslative Assembly too.
The first ever general election for Lok Sabha was held in Arunachal Pradesh in February,
1977 to elect two M.P.s through adult franchise. The first general election to the Union Territory legislative Assembly was held on 2nd February, 1978 for all the 30 seats. On 20th February, 1987, Arunachal Pradesh became the 24th State of the Union of India, with 60 (sixty number of M.L.A. The people of Arunachal Pradesh have actively participated in the election processes.
Although, the elected State Government has taken necessary care and stepes for the preservation of the rich cultural heritage and socio-economic development of the people, and also to maintain law and order of the state, yet, the role of the traditional village councils in implementation of the government policy and programmes is immense. As such, it is really interesting to note that
the traditional village councils and authorities have been maintaining perfect law and order from the time immemorial without the enormous apparatus of modem advanced age meant for maintenance of law and order.
Even in absence of magistrates, soldiers, policeman, lawyers etc, the village councils have been maintaining their supreme authority under their respective jurisdictions, and this may be the subject for further investigation. However, the present study covering twenty six tribes/sub-tribes of Arunchal Pradesh is prepared through intensive field study as well as elaborative and meticulous research works undertaken by the Research Officers of the department. It will definitely fulfill a long standing requirement of the people of the state as well as the Government.
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