STRENGTHENING LOCAL SELF-GOVERNANCE IN TRIBAL AREAS THROUGH ETHNO-DEVELOPMENT PRACTICE IN TRIPURA, NORTH-EAST INDIA

Abstract

Local self-government is an inherent constitutional mechanism that aims to foster democracy at the grassroots level as part of the decentralization process (Bywalec, 2022; Choudhury &Gupta, 2016). This mechanism involves a significant socio-political process and can transform the socio-economic and political aspirations of marginalized communities in rural villages (Akhup & Tripura (2022). This institutional arrangement is particularly crucial for marginalized tribal communities, addressing their historically long-standing exploitation, deprivation, and socio-economic challenges; it ensures direct participation and involvement of people in the political system, allowing them to exercise their political agency (Choudhury & Gupta, 2016). With this special provision, the tribal people can make decisions on matters affecting their lives and development. Akhup & Tripura(2022)argued that true development can only arise from the people themselves when they possess agency and capacity to work effectively for their own betterment.