Panchayati Raj in Tribal Areas

The 73rd Amendment to the Constitution extended the Panchayati Raj system to most of India, but tribal areas were treated differently. The framers of the amendment chose not to apply its provisions to large parts of the tribal regions, partly out of respect for the long-standing traditional political institutions that already existed there. This creates a tension between the modern, uniform system of democratic decentralisation and the older, community-specific forms of self-governance.

Traditional Tribal Institutions: The Example of Meghalaya

Many tribal areas have a rich history of grassroots democracy. A clear illustration comes from Meghalaya, where the three major ethnic groups — the Khasis, the Jaintias, and the Garos — have maintained their own traditional political institutions for hundreds of years. These institutions were fairly well-developed and operated at multiple tiers: the village level, the clan level, and the state level.

For instance, in the traditional political system of the Khasis, each clan had its own council known as the 'Durbar Kur' , which was presided over by the clan headman. This shows that the idea of local self-governance is not new to these societies.

The Gap in the 73rd Amendment

Despite this long tradition, a large chunk of tribal areas lie outside the provisions of the 73rd Amendment. The likely reason is that policymakers did not wish to interfere with these traditional tribal institutions. The intention was to preserve them rather than replace them with a uniform panchayat structure.

The Problem with Tradition: A Sociological Critique

Sociologist Tiplut Nongbri offers a critical perspective on this approach. While the concern for traditional institutions is appreciable, she argues that it fails to take stock of the complexity of the situation. Her key points are:

• Stratification exists: Despite the strong egalitarian ethos that characterises tribal societies, the element of social stratification is not altogether absent. Tradition is not automatically fair or equal.
• Exclusion of women: Tribal political institutions are often marked by open intolerance towards women. Women are frequently excluded from decision-making roles. …