Staff Reporter ITANAGAR, AUG 14: The All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) on Friday withdrew its proposed August 17 statewide bandh after the state government approved new eligibility criteria for direct recruitment to government posts, while warning the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) and Arunachal Pradesh Staff Selection Board (APSSB) against initiating recruitment without implementing the new provisions. Addressing reporters at the Arunachal Press Club here, AAPSU president Meje Taku said the union decided to call off the bandh after the government acted on its demands before the deadline set by the students’ body. The state Cabinet on August 13 approved uniform eligibility criteria for direct recruitment, making a valid Permanent Resident Certificate (PRC) and Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe (APST) certificate mandatory and requiring candidates to demonstrate proficiency in at least one indigenous tribal language of Arunachal Pradesh. Taku said the three conditions addressed the concerns behind AAPSU’s demand for removal of the existing 80:20 recruitment system. He recalled that the state had earlier followed a 50:50 arrangement before AAPSU’s intervention led to the 80:20 system. He, however, warned that AAPSU would oppose any recruitment process that did not incorporate the newly approved criteria. “If the next recruitment process does not incorporate these provisions, we will protest against the APPSC and APSSB,” he said. Clarifying the language provision, Taku said candidates would only have to demonstrate proficiency in at least one indigenous language, particularly their mother tongue. There would be no written examination or allocation of marks for language proficiency during recruitment, with proficiency to be assessed after appointment, he said. Taku said the provision would also contribute to the preservation of indigenous languages and appealed to parents to ensure that their children learn their respective mother tongues. The government had constituted a High Power Committee headed by Cabinet minister Nyato Dukam on July 6 to examine the recruitment issue. The committee held its final meeting on August 10. Meanwhile, Taku urged government employees, particularly APST officers, to shoulder greater responsibility towards the development of the state. He claimed that AAPSU had received complaints against some ministers, advisers and officials over alleged non-performance and misuse of funds. The union, he said, would pursue such issues through democratic means and urge the chief minister to consider a reshuffle of ministers if necessary. On the inter-state boundary issue, Taku said AAPSU had held discussions with the chief minister, home minister and the regional committee and submitted representations to the government. The union would continue to press for a permanent settlement, he said. Referring to the Lekang protest and criticism of AAPSU’s stand, Taku said the union could not respond to every criticism but was prepared to face legal proceedings if the matter reached the courts. In a related development, community-based organisations, students’ unions and NGOs of Lekang Circle in Namsai district began an indefinite bandh from 5 am on Friday, demanding protection of government employment opportunities for domicile and resident certificate holders. The organisations have imposed road blockades at Banka Bridge, Bordumsa Gate and Dirak Gate. The protesters warned that any legal challenge to the state’s reservation policy could have far-reaching consequences. The Lekang bandh is separate from the statewide bandh that AAPSU withdrew on Friday. Taku reiterated that the Cabinet-approved recruitment provisions must be implemented from the very next recruitment process and warned that AAPSU would oppose the APPSC and APSSB if they proceeded without incorporating the new criteria. “We know how to pressurise the government to work. We have to work in the interest of our stat e,” Taku said.
