What are Autonomous District Councils (ADC)?

About Autonomous District Councils (ADC):

• The Sixth Schedule provides a list of ten tribal areas in Assam (3), Meghalaya (3), Tripura (1) and Mizoram (3).
• Each of these tribal areas constitutes an autonomous district.  Each autonomous district has an Autonomous District Council (ADC). 
• Membership: ADCs have up to 30 members with a term of five years, of whom four are nominated by the governor and the remaining 26 are elected on the basis of adult franchise.
• Tenure: The term of the District Councils is for five years from the date of their constitution. 
• Functions: The functions of ADCs as defined in schedule 6 of the constitution included – 
  • making laws on land,
  • management of forests, except reserved forests,
  • appointment of traditional chiefs and headmen, 
  • making rules regulating the inheritance of property, marriage, divorce, the constitution of village courts, 
  • It can establish, construct or manage primary schools, dispensaries, markets, ferries, fisheries, roads and so on in the district.
  • It can also make regulations for the control of money lending and trading by non-tribals. But such regulations require the assent of the governor.
• Revenue source: The main Revenue Sources of ADCs, as specified in the Sixth Schedule, were:
  • taxes on professions, trades, callings and employment;
  • taxes on animals, vehicles and boats;
  • taxes on the entry of goods into a market and sale therein, and tolls on passenger and goods carried on ferries; and
  • taxes for the maintenance of schools, dispensaries or roads.