Understanding Ladakh People’s Demands in the Context of Manipur Tribes

Something very interesting is happening in Ladakh; a Union Territory (UT) without a legislature and a population of 2.74 lakh (census 2011). The bifurcation of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) and the creation of Ladakh as a separate Union Territory (UT) were done simultaneously, both as part of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. Ladakh was given Union Territory about six years back, yet they are demanding (1) declaring it as a tribal area; (2) inclusion in the Sixth Schedule for local autonomy, land, and cultural safeguards; and (3) statehood for full democratic and legislative rights.

Why should they ask for declaring the whole of Ladakh as a tribal area and for the extension of the Sixth Schedule? Why is the demand for statehood not enough?

Tribal people of Manipur should understand that “Tribal Area” is given to tribal-majority regions and for such regions the Sixth Schedule is extended. In other words, tribal areas and the Sixth Schedule go hand in hand as far as the Constitution is concerned and allow for a governance model in the form of:-

(1) Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) with legislative, executive, and judicial powers.

(2) Land protections: Laws in many ST areas prevent land transfer to non-tribals. Prevent outsiders from acquiring land or settling without community consent.

(3) Customary laws: Tribes can follow their own customs in personal matters (marriage, inheritance, etc.).

(4) Cultural protection: Safeguards for language, rituals, and traditional institutions.

(5) Ensure control over local resource management, economic development, and ecological conservation.

The tribal people of Manipur must understand why Ladakh people are demanding statehood over and above declaring it as “tribal area” and extension of “Sixth Schedule”. Right now, Ladakh is a UT without a legislature. They are dissatisfied with the current Union Territory status, where there is no elected assembly (unlike Delhi or J&K), major decisions are made by the Lt. Governor and central bureaucracy, and the people feel disempowered and underrepresented. They want full legislative and administrative powers. Earlier, as part of J&K, Ladakh at least had representation in the state assembly. Now, they feel governed from the Centre with limited voice in their affairs.

It is important to understand why their demands matter. A region like Ladakh, even though tribal in composition, is neither a Scheduled Area (Fifth Schedule - tribal predominant, but not always majority) nor a Tribal Area (Sixth Schedule- tribal majority regions and always majority). This situation is similar to the district councils in “hill areas” of Manipur which is neither under the Fifth Schedule nor the “Sixth Schedule”. So, Ladakh local Hill Councils lack both the State government-backed protection of Fifth Schedule areas and the constitutional autonomy of Sixth Schedule areas. Ladakh has 95% plus tribal majority and can fall under the Sixth Schedule provision. Hence the demand of Ladakh people is to declare Ladakh as a Tribal Area and bring it under Sixth Schedule for full tribal self-governance and land protection.

Manipur “hill areas” is a tribal majority region like the four north-eastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura where the Sixth Schedule is extended, and hence deserves to be in the Sixth Schedule. All the hill districts of Manipur, falling under the “hill areas” as determined by a Presidential notification dated 20th June 1972 under Article 371-C of the Constitution, have above 95% tribal population and are qualified to be declared as “tribal area” and “Sixth Schedule” extended.

The tribes in the “hill areas” of Manipur should understand why the Ladakhis consider it vital that their land is declared “tribal areas” along with the extension of “Sixth Schedule” on top of the demand for statehood. Why are the tribes of Manipur so disunited, without even a coordinating body, and are working at cross purposes while their common foe is engaged overtime even under a supposedly neutral administration to subjugate the tribes and perpetuate hegemonic designs?

God only knows.

Ngaranmi Shimray

(aka Aran Shimray on X)

New Delhi