Rajya Sabha MP Nabam Rebia raised the issue of inclusion of Arunachal Pradesh under the 6th Schedule of the Indian Constitution by strengthening Article 371 (H), to protect the rights of its indigenous people.

Raising the issue during the Zero hour in the Parliament, Rebia highlighted that the Legislative Assembly of Arunachal Pradesh has passed a resolution to this effect and forwarded the same to the Government of India for its consideration.

The resolution seeked to protect the social practices of the State’s tribes, their customary laws and procedures. It also seeks provisions for protection of administration of civil and criminal justice involving decisions according to the customary law of the tribes of Arunachal Pradesh and ownership and transfer of land and its resources.

Rebia said that the amendment to Article 371 (H) in its present form does not fully protect and safeguard tribal rights of the indigenous people of Arunachal Pradesh. Therefore, he urged the Government of India to consider the matter of inclusion of Arunachal Pradesh in the 6th Schedule of the Constitution of India.