The Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee has formally called for an amendment to Article 371H of the Indian Constitution, arguing that the current provisions fall short of delivering the level of autonomy and protection required for the state’s indigenous tribal communities in the face of rapid development and external influences.
Article 371H, introduced through the 55th Amendment in 1986, grants special status to Arunachal Pradesh. It empowers the Governor to act on the advice of the Council of Ministers in most matters but reserves certain discretionary powers, particularly related to law and order, over border areas and tribal affairs. The Congress argues that these safeguards have become outdated and insufficient amid evolving challenges such as large-scale infrastructure projects, migration pressures, land alienation concerns, and the need for stronger protection of customary laws and tribal land rights.
Key points raised by the state Congress leadership include:
- The existing framework does not adequately empower the state legislature or tribal councils to regulate land transfers, resource exploitation, or demographic changes that could impact indigenous populations.
- Greater legislative and executive autonomy is essential to protect Arunachal’s unique tribal identity, customary governance systems, and fragile ecology while ensuring equitable development benefits reach local communities.
- The demand aligns with long-standing aspirations of many tribal groups for a more robust special status, similar in spirit to stronger protections enjoyed by some other northeastern states under Articles 371A, 371B, or 371G.
- The party has urged both the central government and the state BJP administration to initiate a formal dialogue and push for constitutional amendment to strengthen Article 371H without delaying critical development projects.
Congress leaders emphasized that the proposed changes would not hinder national integration or security interests but would instead reinforce trust between the Centre and the people of Arunachal Pradesh by giving greater say in matters directly affecting tribal life and resources.
This demand comes at a time when debates over land laws, inner-line permit extensions, hydropower projects, and border infrastructure are intensifying across the state. The Congress position is likely to spark wider political and public discourse on the future of special constitutional provisions in Arunachal Pradesh.
The state unit has announced plans to mobilize public opinion, hold consultations with tribal councils, student bodies, and civil society, and formally submit the proposal to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and the Law Commission for consideration.
Tags: Arunachal Pradesh Congress, Article 371H Amendment, Greater Autonomy Demand, Tribal Safeguards Arunachal, Special Status Northeast, Constitutional Amendment Arunachal, Indigenous Rights Arunachal, Land Protection Tribes, Northeast Politics Update, Arunachal Pradesh News
Hashtags: #ArunachalPradesh #Article371H #CongressArunachal #TribalAutonomy #SpecialStatus #NortheastIndia #IndigenousRights #ArunachalPolitics #ConstitutionalAmendment #ArunachalNews #TribalSafeguards
