ITANAGAR : The Arunachal Pradesh government has constituted a high-level committee to examine the feasibility and methodology for scrapping the existing 80:20 reservation ratio in state government recruitment and to study the proposal for making Permanent Resident Certificate (PRC) and Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe (APST) certificates mandatory in all competitive recruitment examinations.
The committee has been constituted in response to the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) memorandum submitted to the government on June 2, seeking a time-bound response to its demands.
According to an order issued by the Chief Secretary, the committee will be chaired by Arunachal Pradesh Industries, Skill Development and Labour & Employment Minister Nyato Dukam. Its members include the Principal Secretary (Home/PWD), Secretary (Law), Secretary (Personnel), Secretary (Social Justice, Empowerment and Tribal Affairs) and Joint Secretary (Administrative Reforms & Training).
The AAPSU president, or his representative, will participate in the deliberations as a Special Invitee.
The committee has been tasked with examining the constitutional and legal provisions governing reservation policies and the applicability of PRC in government services. It will also study the recruitment systems followed in neighbouring states, including Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland and Manipur, review the recommendations of an earlier high-level committee on the subject and examine the existing criteria for issuance of PRCs in Arunachal Pradesh.
The committee has been directed to submit its report to the state government within two months.
Reacting to the development, AAPSU President Meje Taku described the committee’s constitution as the outcome of the union’s sustained efforts.
“This is a moment we have long awaited on behalf of the students and youth of our state. We thank every member of AAPSU and every indigenous Arunachalee who has stood behind this demand. This is a first step, and we will remain engaged, constructive, and vigilant until it becomes concrete, implemented policy,” he said.
Taku also stated that the government had assured the union that its remaining demands, including the proposed re-amendment of Article 371(H), resolution of the Chakma-Hajong issue, completion of the Assam-Arunachal boundary demarcation, enactment of central anti-racism legislation, introduction of the Chief Minister’s Research Fellowship for APST PhD scholars, establishment of additional Common University Entrance Test (CUET) centres and other welfare measures, are being taken up on priority by the respective departments.
AAPSU had on Monday served the government a seven-day deadline to respond to its 13-point memorandum.
