Staff Reporter
ITANAGAR : The Arunachal Frontier Tribal Forum (AFTF) on Friday termed the state government’s decision to constitute a six-member committee to examine the abolition of the 80:20 reservation ratio in government recruitment an “eyewash” and accused it of delaying action on the long-pending issue.
Addressing a press conference at the Arunachal Press Club here, AFTF chairman Tadak Nalo announced a one-month ultimatum to the state government to abolish the existing reservation ratio and introduce mandatory Permanent Resident Certificate (PRC) and Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe (APST) certificate requirements for candidates appearing in recruitment examinations conducted by the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) and the Arunachal Pradesh Staff Selection Board (APSSB).
Nalo said the committee, headed by Industries Minister Nyato Dukam, was constituted on July 6 to examine the feasibility of abolishing the existing reservation ratio and making PRC and APST certificates mandatory for recruitment examinations.
He, however, alleged that a similar committee headed by former Education Minister Taba Tedir had been constituted in 2022 on the same issue and submitted its report in 2024, but no action had been taken on its recommendations.
Nalo also alleged that the Itanagar Capital Region administration denied permission for the forum’s proposed protest rally scheduled for July 11 despite the AFTF having obtained clearances from the police and the Itanagar Municipal Corporation. According to him, the district administration cited directions from higher authorities while refusing permission.
The forum has deferred the proposed rally for one month and urged the government to implement the recommendations of the earlier committee by notifying mandatory APST and PRC requirements for APPSC and APSSB examinations.
Warning of intensified agitation, Nalo said the AFTF would launch a statewide democratic movement after August 10 if the government failed to act within the stipulated period. He also urged the government to withhold the notification for the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Combined Competitive Examination (APPSCCE)-2026 until the proposed eligibility criteria are implemented.
