ITANAGAR : Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Friday said the state government has decided to constitute four high-powered committees to re-verify APST certificates, examine the non-APST offspring issue, strengthen the ILP framework and check infiltration.
The decision was taken after discussions with the Arunachal Indigenous Tribes Forum (AITF), community-based organisations (CBOs), the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU), the ST Bachao Andolan Committee, government officials and legal experts on the four key demands raised by the ST Bachao Andolan, Khandu said after the meeting.
“Formation of four high-powered committees has been agreed upon today,” the chief minister said in a post on X.
He added that the panels would examine the issues and recommend suitable measures.
The CM further informed that official notifications constituting the committees would be issued by Monday.
The decision follows a series of consultations between the state government and various stakeholders, including an eight-hour-long meeting chaired by Khandu on May 27 and another consultative session held at the civil secretariat here on Friday.
Khandu said each committee would be led by a cabinet minister and include representatives from AITF, AAPSU, the ST Bachao Andolan Committee, legal experts, research scholars and women representatives to ensure a balanced, inclusive and action-oriented process.
The four committees will separately re-verify the Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe (APST) certificates, issues concerning non-APST offspring, strengthening of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) framework, including a review of the ILP Guidelines 2026, and concerns relating to infiltration.
During the meeting, stakeholders and government representatives agreed to continue the dialogue process, with another round of discussions scheduled for Monday.
The committees have been given an initial timeframe of six months to submit their recommendations, though the period may be extended depending on the outcome of field studies and stakeholder consultations, officials said.
To ensure regular monitoring of the exercise, three review meetings will be held under the chairmanship of the chief minister during the course of the committees’ work.
The move comes amid sustained demands from indigenous groups for stronger implementation of the ILP regime and resolution of long-pending concerns related to tribal identity, demographic changes and the status of different communities in the state. (Source: PTI)
